Augsburg take on Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga on Sunday, with the hosts looking to return to winning ways after a winless run of four matches.
Schalke, meanwhile, remain marooned to the bottom of the table having failed to win any of their opening 10 games.
Match preview
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Now competing in the Bundesliga for a 10th successive season, surviving relegation still remains the primary objective heading into the campaign for a club the size of Augsburg.
Heiko Herrlich's side certainly do not look in any danger of failing to achieve that at present, but any early hopes of a third top-half finish in the top flight after an excellent start to this season may prove to have been premature.
Augsburg were outclassed at Hoffenheim in a 3-1 defeat last weekend, with Christoph Baumgartner in fine form throughout his time on the pitch. The midfielder cut inside from the right before bending a cross towards the far post in the early exchanges, with Florian Grillitsch obliging with a simple headed finish to open the scoring.
Daniel Caligiuri, who joined from Schalke in the recent transfer window, levelled proceedings with a fine header, taking the wide forward's tally for his new club to four goals in 10 matches. However, Grillitsch bagged a brace in the first minute of the second half with a fine solo goal, lifting the ball behind himself and the opposing defender's head with his right foot before calmly passing the ball into the far corner with his left. A fine counter-attack initiated and finished by Ihlas Bebou wrapped up the three points for the hosts.
With only two points from his side's last four matches, Herrlich will sense an opportunity against Schalke to return to winning ways - and perhaps the top half, too, as a result.
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Manuel Baum would certainly love to trade places with his former club, with Schalke's club record winless run of 26 matches absolutely dwarfing Augsburg's recent dip in form.
His side never looked close to even avoiding defeat in the 3-0 home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen last weekend, with Malick Thiaw's own goal in the 10th minute getting the hosts off to a dreadful start.
Only Leverkusen's profligacy prevented their lead from being extended in the first half, with Michael Langer superbly stopping Julian Baumgartlinger's strike from distance. However, the midfielder made amends from the resulting corner, with his near post flick sneaking inside the far post, before Lukas Hradecky denied Steven Skrzybski from the penalty spot and Patrick Schick's fine left-footed finish wrapped up the visitors' victory.
Baum may sense an opportunity to record a rare win at his old stomping ground, with one surely required soon if Schalke are to dig themselves out of the deep hole they find themselves in.
Augsburg Bundesliga form: LWLDDL
Schalke 04 Bundesliga form: LDDLLL
Schalke 04 form (all competitions): DWDLLL
Team News
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Augsburg have something of an injury crisis developing, with Andre Hahn (coronavirus), Iago (bruising), Noah Sarenren Bazee (ligament), Mads Pedersen (muscle), Jan Moravek (muscle) and Alfred Finnbogason (all muscular) all unavailable for the visit of Schalke.
Herrlich will be looking towards Caligiuri and Ruben Vargas to lead his side to victory, with the duo both in excellent form between the lines this season.
Schalke, meanwhile, are without Ahmed Kutucu (coronavirus), Salif Sane and Goncalo Pacienca (both knee) for the trip to Augsburg.
Nabil Bentaleb and Amine Harit have not featured since a training ground bust-up with assistant manager Naldo last month, while Vedad Ibisevic will not play for the club again with his contract set to be terminated in January.
Augsburg possible starting lineup:
Gikiewicz; Framberger, Gouweleeuw, Suchy, Uduokhai; Gruezo, Strobl; Caligiuri, Vargas; Gregoritsch, Niederlechner
Schalke 04 possible starting lineup:
Langer; Thiaw, Kabak, Stambouli, Oczipka; Mascarell, Serdar; Skrzybski, Boujellab, Raman; Uth
We say: Augsburg 1-1 Schalke 04
With Augsburg missing several first-team players through injury, we can envisage Schalke picking up a point on Sunday.
Herrlich's side are not exactly free-scoring, which should help Schalke gain a foothold in the game at their old manager's side.
