FC Augsburg vs. Mainz 05: Bundesliga Match Preview
Kick-off, Team News, and Predicted Lineups
Match Details
FC Augsburg will host Mainz 05 at the WWK Arena in Augsburg, Germany, on Saturday, August 26, 2023, at 3:30 PM CEST. This highly anticipated match is the second fixture of the 2023-24 Bundesliga season for both teams.
Team News
FC Augsburg:
- Augsburg will be without suspended midfielder Niklas Dorsch.
- Defender Felix Uduokhai is doubtful with a knock.
- Striker Florian Niederlechner is expected to start despite a minor injury concern.
Mainz 05:
- Mainz have no major injury concerns ahead of the match.
- Midfielder Leandro Barreiro is a doubt due to illness.
- Striker Karim Onisiwo is expected to lead the line for the visitors.
Predicted Lineups
FC Augsburg (3-4-2-1):
- Gikiewicz (GK)
- Gouweleeuw, Oxford, Uduokhai
- Pedersen, Maier, Jensen, Caligiuri
- Demirovic, Berisha
- Niederlechner
Mainz 05 (4-2-3-1):
- Zentner (GK)
- Widmer, Bell, Fernandes, Caci
- Stach, Barreiro
- Lee, Fulgini, Ingvartsen
- Onisiwo
Form Guide and Head-to-Head Record
FC Augsburg:
- Augsburg finished 14th in the Bundesliga last season.
- They won two, drew one, and lost one in their pre-season friendlies.
- Their last Bundesliga match was a 2-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund on May 13, 2023.
Mainz 05:
- Mainz finished 11th in the Bundesliga last season.
- They won three, drew one, and lost one in their pre-season friendlies.
- Their last Bundesliga match was a 3-1 victory over VfL Bochum on May 13, 2023.
Head-to-Head Record:
- Augsburg has won three of the last five meetings between the two sides.
- Mainz won the most recent encounter, a 2-1 victory in Augsburg on March 4, 2023.
- The overall head-to-head record stands at seven wins for Augsburg, five wins for Mainz, and three draws.
Key Players to Watch
FC Augsburg:
- Ermedin Demirovic: The Bosnian striker scored 10 goals in the Bundesliga last season.
- Arne Maier: The German midfielder is a key part of Augsburg's engine room.
- Ruben Vargas: The Swiss winger is a creative force for the hosts.
Mainz 05:
- Karim Onisiwo: The Austrian striker scored seven goals in the Bundesliga last season.
- Silvan Widmer: The Swiss defender is a rock at the back for Mainz.
- Lee Jae-sung: The South Korean midfielder is a creative spark for the visitors.
Match Prediction
This is a tough match to predict, as both teams are evenly matched on paper. However, Augsburg will be buoyed by the home crowd and will be looking to make a strong start to the season.
Mainz, on the other hand, will be confident after their impressive pre-season form. They also have a good record against Augsburg in recent years.
Ultimately, I think Mainz will edge this one out by a narrow margin. They have more quality in their squad and are in better form at the moment.
Predicted Score: FC Augsburg 1-2 Mainz 05
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