Bayern Munich continue their Bundesliga title defence on Sunday with a trip to mid-table Augsburg knowing they could end the weekend seven points behind current leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
The Bavarians are in the unfamiliar position of hunting a team above them and were far from their best despite beating Union Berlin at home on Wednesday. It was a bad-tempered game with little attacking action, but Bayern got the three points they desperately needed after defeat to Werder Bremen.
Augsburg are the definition of mid-table right now, stuttering along with little risk of relegation but without hope of troubling the European places. If Thomas Tuchel’s side are to overhaul Leverkusen during the second half of the season, these are the games Bayern must win comfortably.
Here’s all you need to know about Augsburg vs Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga this weekend.
Augsburg vs Bayern Munich H2H Record (Last Five Games)
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Augsburg aren’t struggling with injuries at the moment and are in decent shape coming into what is generally the hardest home game of the season for any Bundesliga side. They will, however, be without Reece Oxford, who isn’t expected back until February.
Niklas Dorsch and Raphael Framberger are also sidelined with fitness issues, with Framberger potentially out until mid-March. There’s a chance Sven Michel could be available should he recover from a back problem, but he is a doubt.
Augsburg predicted lineup vs Bayern Munich (4-3-1-2): Dahmen; Mbabu, Gouweleeuw, Uduokhai, Iago; Jensen, Rexhbecaj, Engels; Vargas; Tietz, Demirovic.
Bayern have been rocked by injuries over the past few months and the international absences Noussair Mazraoui and Kim Min-jae have not helped Tuchel. Serge Gnabry is not expected back until March, while Bouna Sarr is out for the season.
The game will come too soon for the likes of Tarek Buchmann and Daniel Peretz, while Dayot Upamecano and Konrad Laimer picked up injuries against Union Berlin in midweek, leaving Bayern short at the back.
Bayern Munich predicted lineup vs Augsburg (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Kimmich, De Ligt, Dier, Guerreiro; Pavlovic, Goretzka; Sane, Musiala, Coman; Kane.
This has the potential to be a tricky away game for Bayern, who have shown they are susceptible to slip-ups in this sort of match.
Augsburg will have some confidence from their 2-1 away win over Borussia Monchengladbach last weekend. That being said, Tuchel’s side should have too much quality for Augsburg if they can get the basics right.
They could be a bit vulnerable at the back with key players out, but three points should still go the way of the German giants.
