Augsburg go in search of back-to-back victories in the Bundesliga when they host Mainz 05 at the WWK Arena on Saturday.
The hosts moved away from immediate danger following a huge win last weekend, whilst the visitors' woes on their travels continued as they fell further behind in the race for the European places.
Match preview
© Reuters
After coming out on top in the huge six-pointer at Arminia Bielefeld last weekend, Augsburg have given themselves a fantastic chance of avoiding the drop out of the top flight come May.
In a tight and nervy game containing very little goalmouth action, Daniel Caligiuri's goal shortly after half time was enough to seal a crucial three points for Markus Weinzierl's side against a fellow relegation candidate.
The win lifted Fuggerstadter off the relegation playoff spot and into 14th place ahead of matchday 26 this weekend, with a three-point gap keeping them above a struggling Hertha Berlin side.
However, Stuttgart's dramatic win over Borussia Monchengladbach a day later meant that Augsburg's advantage over the automatic relegation zone remained at just four points, so Weinzierl will be keen for his side to remain focused with plenty left to do between now and May for them to achieve their aim of survival.
With just four home defeats at the WWK Arena all campaign, three of which have arrived against the current top six, the hosts will possess plenty of confidence in registering another crucial victory at the weekend to lift themselves further away from danger.
Excluding the heavy 4-1 defeat at Mainz back in October, Augsburg have defeated this weekend's opponents in their previous six meetings, so there are certainly plenty of reasons for Weinzierl's men to be hopeful.
© Reuters
As for the visitors, a remarkable opening to the campaign is in danger of fading away in the closing stages between now and May.
After putting year-on-year relegation concerns behind them with an outstanding start under Bo Svensson, Mainz's dreadful form on the road has seen them slip down to ninth ahead of this weekend's action.
Considering their usual expectations, a mid-table position remains a fantastic situation for Die Nullfunfer, although a poor finish to the campaign could well remove the gloss off those achievements.
Following the postponement of last weekend's visit of second-placed Borussia Dortmund to the Opel Arena due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the club, the 3-1 defeat at Union Berlin was the latest match in their struggles on the road.
By the time of Dominik Kohr's two yellow cards in the space of three minutes on the hour mark, Svensson's side were already 2-0 down, and despite a late consolation from Delano Burgzorg in the final minute of normal time, Mainz fell to a seventh defeat in their last eight games on the road.
In fact, only Stuttgart and Greuther Furth - two of the bottom three - possess worse away records than Mainz up to this point, and with the build up to this trip to Augsburg being disrupted by the lasting effects of last week's outbreak, Svensson and his players have it all to do if they are to reignite their slight glimmer of hope in climbing into the top six.
- L
- W
- L
- L
- D
- W
- W
- L
- W
- D
- W
- L
- L
- L
- W
- D
- W
- L
Team News
© Reuters
Augsburg will welcome back summer arrival Niklas Dorsch on Saturday, after the young midfielder missed out on last weekend's victory through a one-match suspension.
Felix Uduokhai was forced off in the first half of that game due to an ankle injury, and with the 24-year-old ruled out this weekend as a result, Frederik Winther looks set to make just his third Bundesliga start of the season in his place.
Tobias Strobl remains out for the season, and he is joined on the sidelines by Robert Gumny and Alfred Finnbogason, who remain unavailable for another few weeks.
As for the visitors, Kohr and Alexander Hack will serve their one-match suspensions this weekend due to the postponement last week.
Jeremiah St Juste is also unavailable for several weeks due to his ongoing shoulder injury, meaning the usually consistent back line will contain either Niklas Tauer or David Nemeth instead.
Spare goalkeeper Finn Dahmen is the only other absentee though, with Svensson having several decisions to make as he looks to address his side's problems on the road.
Augsburg possible starting lineup:
Gikiewicz; Gouweleeuw, Oxford, Winther; Caligiuri, Maier, Dorsch, Iago; Hahn, Vargas; Gregoritsch
Mainz 05 possible starting lineup:
Zentner; Tauer, Bell, Niakhate; Widmer, Lee, Stach, Boetius, Martin; Burkardt, Onisiwo
We say: Augsburg 1-0 Mainz 05
One goal could well be enough to win this tight game of football on Saturday, and with Augsburg buoyed by last weekend's victory, we can see them edging out the visitors by a narrow margin here.
The hosts are relatively solid at the WWK Arena and the visitors have been awful on their travels, so a home win is our predicted outcome, although it would not be surprising to see Mainz grind out a point if they can replicate some of their early-season form.
