Struggling Bundesliga side Augsburg will host title-chasing Borussia Dortmund this Sunday in the 24th round of the 2021/22 Bundesliga season.
Venue: WWK Arena (Augsburg)
Key Statistics
Augsburg have just two wins from their last 10 games in the league (D3, L5).
They have won 15 of their 22 points this season at home.
Augsburg’s former Schalke midfielder Caligiuri has scored six times against Dortmund – more than against any other club.
Markus Weinzierl has overseen 99 defeats in his Bundesliga coaching career, including nine against BVB, whom he has beaten only once.
The hosts have conceded a league-high ten goals in the opening 15 minutes.
Borussia Dortmund have scored 22 goals since the turn of the year – more than any other Bundesliga club.
Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick on his Dortmund debut in Augsburg; he has 56 goals in 57 Bundesliga games all-told.
Marco Reus has scored two goals in his past two Bundesliga games, supplying a further three assists.
The visitors have also failed to keep a clean sheet in 16 straight Bundesliga head-to-head meetings with Augsburg- their longest such run against any current Bundesliga side.
Head to head
Borussia Dortmund have won nine of their last 15 games against Augsburg. The hosts have three wins in that same period (D4).
Latest performances in all competitions
Augsburg: L-L-W-D-L
Dortmund: D-W-L-W-L
Augsburg
Augsburg will be desperate to get back to winning ways when they welcome free-scoring Borussia Dortmund to WWK Arena on Sunday.
The host’s miserable season continued in Matchday 22 as they were beaten 2-1 by Freiburg, making it three losses from their last four league games (W1).
As a result, they are precariously placed with 11 games of the campaign to go. They come into this round sitting in the promotion/relegation playoff place of 16th, just three points clear of automatic relegation.
Markus Weinzierl knows his team need to start putting a run of form together if they’re to pull clear of the bottom three. Given their record against BVB in their last three home h2h meetings (W2, L1), the hosts will fancy their chances of getting a win in this game.
Meanwhile, Robert Gummy and Tobias Strobl remain sidelined, while Andre Hahn’s suspension means Daniel Caligiuri should come in on the right of midfield.
Possible Augsburg starting line-up
Rafal Gikiewicz; Iago, Reece Oxford, Jeffrey Gouweleeuw, Raphael Framberger; Ruben Vargas, Niklas Dorsch, Carlos Gruezo, Lasse Gunther; Michael Gregoritsch, Florian Niederlechner.
Injured: Alfred Finnbogason, Robert Gummy, Tobia Srtobl, Frederik Winther, Andi Zeqiri.
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Andre Hahn
Borussia Dortmund
After a 2-2 draw with Glasgow Rangers that ended their participation in the UEFA Europa League, Borussia Dortmund will turn their attention to the Bundesliga this Sunday.
Despite what has been a disappointing season, the visitors are still in the title race as they are currently sitting in second place, six points behind Bayern Munich.
They come into this round on the back of a 6-0 Bundesliga win over Borussia Monchengladbach. The result pulled Dortmund’s scoring average to 2.74 goals per game, the second-highest in the club’s history after 23 Bundesliga matches.
They will now look to build on that win as they chase Bayern Munich for the title this season.
Meanwhile, Marco Rose will be without a host of first-team players including Thomas Meunier, Emre Can and Raphael Guerreiro, who picked up knocks in midweek.
Erling Haaland could make his long-awaited return in this game while Gio Reyna and Marcel Schmelzer are definitely absentees.
Possible Dortmund starting line-up
Gregor Kobel; Marius Wolf, Mats Hummels, Marin Pongracic, Nico Schulz; Jude Bellingham, Mahmoud Dahoud, Axel Witsel; Julian Brandt, Donyell Malen, Thorgan Hazard.
Injured: Gio Reyna, Marcel Schmelzer are , Dan-Axel Zagadou, Mateu Morey, Manuel Akanji.
Doubtful: Erling Haaland, Thomas Meunier, Emre Can, Abdoulaye Camara, and Raphael Guerreiro
Suspended: None
Prediction
Augsburg 1-3 Dortmund
