Confirmed: Augsburg's Pedersen out for Bayern
A late COVID infection will keep the surging Mads Pedersen out of FC Augsburg's clash with FC Bayern München.
The supplier of a sublime assist and decisive goal in Augsburg's weekend win over Wolfsburg won't be available for FCA trainer Markus Weinzierl in this weekend's showdown with the German champions. Weinzierl confirmed at his Friday presser that the Danish attacker had to enter quarantine after testing positive for COVID.
Pedersen also started for the Fuggerstädter in the midweek win against FSV Mainz 05. A more mediocre performance was quickly forgotten when the Dane's replacement, Swiss winger Ruben Vargas, came on in the 55th to put in an excellent relief shift and score his own goal.
Weinzierl didn't specifically commit to starting Vargas in Pedersen's place on Saturday. One nevertheless assumes that he has little other choice with midfielder/winger Carlos Gruezo out on a yellow suspension.
Despite the herculean nature off the task ahead, Augsburg's gaffer insisted that his underdogs would head into the fixture with the mindset that they could win.
"I've been able to beat Bayern three times with Augsburg," Weinzierl reminded reporters, "A team is gelling here. We approach every game with a winning mentality and we'll be heading to München with our best lineup."
Augsburg are in fact on a two-match winning streak as they head to face their Bavarian rivals. Weinzierl's charges actually upset the German record champions in the reverse fixture in November.
FCB trainer Julian Nagelsmann, a native of a small town just south of Augsburg, gave his own squad updates earlier in the day.