VFL WOLFSBURG
Fourth from the bottom of the Bundesliga and just one point out of the relegation playoff, VfL Wolfsburg (5-5-12, 15th) are desperate for a sixth victory to inch closer to more Bundesliga football in 2026/27. It is especially an aim that they can reach when the middle of the table is still five points away - and Augsburg are one of the teams tied for ninth.
Daniel Bauer’s Wölfe are not going to have an easy match to close that five-point gap, however. Statistics show that this may be a more physical match than most: both sides are among the top nine in terms of fouls committed, with Augsburg fourth at 258 and Wolfsburg eighth at 247. Augsburg are also top of the league in terms of yellow cards, with 57; in terms of fouls drawn, however, Augsburg are among the most aware of potential free kick scenarios, second in the league and just one back of the lead at 261, whereas Wolfsburg are third from bottom at 200.
At the same time, there is a very likely chance that both sides are going to find the back of the net at least once: Wolfsburg have conceded in all of their last 17 home matches - a league record - but on the contrary, Augsburg have also conceded in their last 14 away matches.
Benefitting Wolfsburg is the fact that they control most of the key statistical categories (possession, shots, shots on target, accurate passes) in their recent meetings - Wolfsburg have not been outpossessed by Augsburg in a competitive Bundesliga fixture since a 2-1 defeat at WWK-Arena on 25 November 2017.
Team News
Reports from the club on Friday evening confirm that Patrick Wimmer (muscle) remains in rehabilitation and will be absent indefinitely. Jesper Lindstrøm (illness) is also doubtful to start the match this weekend, but could potentially return for the match against VfB Stuttgart next week.
Brazilian defender Cleiton Santos (ankle), Danish left-back/left midfielder Joakim Mæhle (shoulder), German right-back/centre-back Kilian Fischer (thigh), and Danish striker Jonas Wind (hip) are all expected to return to the squad in the next week or two. Dutch centre-back Jenson Seelt (knee) is expected to return in the middle of March, and will be followed by Brazilian defender Rogério (unknown), who is set to return in the final week of March.
The only long-term injury is to Hungarian central midfielder/defensive midfielder Bence Dárdai (cruciate ligament), who will be absent from the squad until the start of the 2026/27 season.
The projected XI has no changes in goal, along the back line, or in the defensive midfield - but only one in the attacking midfield. Kento Shiogai is projected to be dropped from the lineup, as Mattias Svanberg replaces him at left attacking midfield; the rest of the attacking midfield stays the same with Lovro Majer and Adam Daghim, and Mohamed Amoura remains the lone striker. This is a backup plan due to Wimmer’s injury.
Projected XI (4-2-3-1): Grabara - Belocian, Jenz, Vavro, Kumbedi - Arnold, Eriksen - Svanberg, Majer, Daghim - Amoura.
FC AUGSBURG
With three wins from their last four matches, FC Augsburg (7-4-11, 11th) are performing well under Manuel Baum after previously parting ways with former DFB-Team assistant coach Sandro Wagner. All of their last four results have been decided by one goal, including a 2-1 win at Allianz Arena against FC Bayern München - the first time that they defeated their Bavarian rivals since 2015, and the only defeat FC Bayern has in this Bundesliga season to date.
Augsburg have just two wins from their ten matches away this season (2-1-7) - but are also facing a Wolfsburg side that has only won twice at home through eleven matches (2-3-6), against the likes of 1. FC Union Berlin and FC St. Pauli. Augsburg have 10 goals and a -10 goal differential away, whereas Wolfsburg have 15 goals and a -4 difference at home.
Benefitting Augsburg is the fact that they have not lost to Wolfsburg in any of their last eight Bundesliga matches, with the last time having been a 0-1 result at Volkswagen Arena on 6 November 2021. Maximilian Arnold and Yannick Gerhardt are the only returning Wolfsburg starters from that match, and Jeffrey Gouweleeuw was the only present-day Augsburg player to be involved - however, he will be absent from this one due to a medial collateral ligament injury that has him out until the final weeks of the season.
Team News
The list of injuries is very short for FC Augsburg - down to just two names.
French centre-back Chrislain Matsima (hamstring) is absent until mid-March, while as mentioned above, Dutch centre-back Jeffrey Gouweleeuw (medical collateral ligament) will not be able to return to the training ground until early to mid April.
With that said, the projected XI for this weekend is expected to see no changes in goal or along the back line, when compared to the match with 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 last weekend. The midfield is expected to see a revamp, with Dimitris Giannoulis entering at left midfield and Robin Fellhauer moving to right midfield. Mert Kömür is projected to be replaced by Anton Kade, who moves up from the right midfield.
Projected XI (3-4-2-1): Dahmen - Zesiger, Schlotterbeck, Banks - Giannoulis, Massengo, Jakić, Fellhauer - Claude-Maurice, Kade - Gregoritsch