Augsburg vs. Wolfsburg preview: Can the hosts claim four straight victories?
Augsburg will have the chance to claim four consecutive victories when they play host to a Wolfsburg side who are looking to win back-to-back games for the first time this season.
| Elvis Rexhbecaj. | Photo: FC Augsburg |
Augsburg
After beginning the season with four defeats in their opening five games, Augsburg were contemplating a long and difficult campaign. However, three consecutive victories suggest that Augsburg could be set to enjoy a memorable season.
A narrow 1-0 win over Werder Bremen was repeated when Augsburg pulled off a major upset to beat Bayern Munich. Not content with beating the reigning champions, Enrico Maaßen's side added three more points to their tally last weekend with an entertaining 3-2 away win against Schalke. Although Emerdin Demirović netted a brace inside 21 minutes, Augsburg looked to have blown their chance of claiming a third straight victory when Schalke scored either side of half time. However, Augsburg demonstrated the character they possess when they restored their lead through Andre Hahn, whose 77th-minute strike proved to be the winner.
Sitting in 10th place with seven points separating them from the bottom three, Augsburg's aspirations for the season may have turned from survival to a potential top-half finish. Although that target may be ambitious, but if they can win four consecutive Bundesliga games for only the second time in their history, then perhaps they will believe that a place in the top half is possible.
Team News
Although he scored the winner last weekend, Hahn is set for a spell on the sidelines after picking up a knee injury in Sunday's victory. Hahn joins a lengthy injury list that also includes Felix Uduokhai, Reece Oxford, Tobias Strobl, Niklas Dorsch and Noah Sarenren-Bazee. Mërgim Berisha will also miss out as he serves a one-match suspension after receiving a red card in the win over Schalke.
Wolfsburg
After picking up two points in his opening five league games as Wolfsburg boss, Niko Kovač will be relieved that his side have managed to win two of their last three games.
Although their first win of the season was followed by a defeat to Union Berlin, Saturday's visitors bounced back last weekend with a 3-2 victory over Stuttgart. After falling behind, Omar Marmoush scored against his former side before Maximilian Arnold gave Wolfsburg the lead. The encounter looked to be heading towards a draw when Konstantinos Mavropanos equalised in first half stoppage time, but a Yannick Gerhardt strike in the 91st minute secured Wolfsburg their first home victory of the campaign.
Wolfsburg will now attempt to claim consecutive victories for the first time this season when they face Augsburg on Saturday. Although, with three of their four away games this season ending in defeat, the visitors may be content with a point against an in-form Augsburg side, especially as they have only scored one goal in those four away matches.
Team News
Jerome Roussillon and Jonas Wind are sidelined with injury issues. Max Kruse is also injured, although he has been told that he is no longer part of Kovač's plans.