Augsburg vs Schalke – News and Probable Lineups

On Sunday evening, Schalke 04 will conclude their three-year absence from the Bundesliga as they head to WWK Arena to take on Augsburg in the opening match of the new season.

As the Royal Blues make their return to Germany’s top tier, Augsburg is gearing up for their 16th consecutive Bundesliga season, remaining one of only six clubs never to have faced relegation from the league.

Match overview

Augsburg’s fortunes changed last season with the arrival of Manuel Baum, who transformed a team under threat of relegation into a stable mid-table side.

Initially, Baum joined the club as a caretaker for Sandro Wagner in December, but the quick improvement in results led the Augsburg management to officially appoint him.

The 46-year-old, who had previously overseen Augsburg from 2016 to 2019, has now signed a two-year contract and is responsible for a significant squad transformation.

As many as 16 players have left, allowing Augsburg to raise substantial funds through the sales of Dimitris Giannoulis, Keven Schlotterbeck, and Cedric Zesiger.

These departures have been compensated by several new signings, with Rodrigo Ribeiro representing over £4m, marking the club’s largest investment over the summer.

Augsburg has also secured the permanent transfer of Michael Gregoritsch after his loan last season, during which he was the top scorer with six goals.

The efforts during the summer transfer window have already shown promise, as Baum’s side kicked off their campaign with a convincing 2-0 win over Energie Cottbus in the first round of the DFB-Pokal.

Augsburg aims to carry that positive momentum into their Bundesliga opener on Sunday, welcoming Schalke for their first league encounter at the WWK Arena since 2023.

After three years away, Schalke makes their return to the Bundesliga, rejoining the elite as champions of the 2. Bundesliga following a remarkable previous season.

The seven-time German champions topped the second division with 70 points and achieved the best defensive record among Germany’s top three leagues, highlighting the strength of their promotion campaign.

Now, the challenge is to move past their recent struggles in the Bundesliga, where they have won only two of their last 45 matches.

They will look to rely on the experience of Edin Dzeko, who remains with the team and is on the brink of becoming the fourth-oldest player in Bundesliga history.

The Bosnian striker netted six goals in 11 appearances last term and made a significant impact in the DFB-Pokal last weekend, scoring twice as Schalke dispatched Hallescher.

Head coach Miron Muslic has also brought in several new players, including Satoshi Tanaka, Junior Dina Ebimbe, Maximilian Wober, Robin Gosens, and goalkeeper Kevin Muller.

Augsburg form (all competitions):

Team News

Augsburg comes into the new Bundesliga season with relatively few injury concerns.

Nonetheless, there are doubts regarding Steve Mounie, who is still working on regaining match fitness.

Tim Breithaupt is also uncertain with ongoing toe issues, potentially leaving him sidelined.

Last season’s top scorer for Augsburg, Gregoritsch, is anticipated to spearhead the attack for Baum’s side.

Regarding Schalke, there are several players who will be unavailable for the season opener on Sunday.

Adrian Gantenbein is dealing with an ankle issue, and Emil Hojlund is in recovery after heel surgery.

Additionally, there are concerns over Bryan Lasme, who remains out with a calf injury.

Dzeko impressed with a brace in the cup last weekend, but Moussa Sylla is expected to lead the attack from the outset.

Augsburg probable starting XI:

Damen; Matsima, Gouweleuw, Brackelmann; Wolf, Massengo, Rieder, Behrens; Kade, Fellhauer; Gregoritsch

Schalke 04 probable starting XI:

Karius; Becker, Katic, Kurucay; Ljubicic, Schallenberg, El-Faouzi, Becker; Karaman, Aouchiche; Sylla

As Schalke returns to the Bundesliga, they face a challenging opener away at Augsburg.

Only four teams have accrued more points than Augsburg since Baum’s tenure began, and it’s anticipated that the hosts will continue their strong run.