Preview: Greuther Furth vs. Augsburg - prediction, team news, lineups

Greuther Furth are already 13 points away from 15th spot in the Bundesliga, which means that Saturday's outing against 16th-placed Augsburg will feel like a must win game for both sides in gameweek 17.

Augsburg have lifted their form slightly in recent weeks, only losing once in their last five matches, but this weekend's hosts have lost 14 of their opening 16 games.

Match preview

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Greuther Furth earned promotion to the German top flight last season and they recorded their first win of this campaign last Sunday, with Havard Nielsen's strike enough to seal a 1-0 win against Union Berlin.

Stefan Leitl's side then faced a tough trip to Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, when Erling Braut Haaland's brace and Donyell Malen's 89th-minute strike defeated Greuther Furth 3-0.

Their defensive record this season is really damaging their hopes of survival, having conceded 49 goals in 16 matches, 20 of which have been let in during their last five matches.

Greuther Furth will be glad that they are back on home soil this weekend, having conceded 19 fewer goals at the Sportpark Ronhof Thomas Sommer, and they come up against a side that has only netted five times on their travels this season.

Augsburg can climb out of the relegation playoff position with a win on Saturday and a point last time out against Leipzig ensured that they remained level on points with 15th-placed Stuttgart.

Andre Silva had given Leipzig a first-half lead in that game and it was not until the 86th minute when Daniel Caligiuri found an equaliser for Augsburg, which came from the penalty spot after Benjamin Henrichs was adjudged to have handled the ball.

Markus Weinzierl's side have only won once on their travels this season, but that victory did come in their last away game against Koln which may give the visitors confidence on Saturday.

Given Greuther Furth's difficult start to the campaign, Augsburg will feel that this is a must-win match for them to pull away from 17th spot and lift themselves above 16th place.

Augsburg's defensive record is slightly better than the three teams above them in the Bundesliga, and the away team will be looking for a clean sheet this weekend, which would only be their second in 11 league outings.

Team News

Gideon Jung and Nick Viergever could return to action this month but Saturday's outing will have come too early for the centre-back duo, who are both sidelined due to injury.

Jessic Ngankam, Justin Hoogma, Marius Funk and Robin Kehr will also be missing from the matchday squad this weekend, but they all have longer-term injuries and will not return for Greuther Furth until 2022.

The home side are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Branimir Hrgota, Dickson Abiama and Nielsen making up the attacking trio, with five Bundesliga goals between them this season.

Alfred Finnbogason, Carlos Gruezo, Florian Niederlechner, Felix Uduokhai and Tobias Strobl are all certain absentees for Augsburg, with Andi Zeqiri also a doubt for this match.

Andre Hahn and Michael Gregoritsch will offer the biggest attacking threat for the visitors, while Niklas Dorsch has been one of Augsburg's key players in recent games and he is certain to start in midfield.

Greuther Furth possible starting lineup:
Burchert; Willems, Bauer, Griesbeck, Meyerhofer; Tillman, Christiansen, Seguin; Nielsen, Abiama, Hrgota

Augsburg possible starting lineup:
Gikiewicz; Iago, Oxford, Gouweleeuw, Gummy; Vargas, Moravek, Dorsch, Jensen; Gregoritsch, Hahn

We say: Greuther Furth 0-2 Augsburg

After some really positive results for Augsburg, like beating Bayern Munich last month, confidence has been lifted and the visitors are favourites to pick up three points this weekend.

Greuther Furth will want to build on their home win against Union Berlin, but leaking goals as they are will give Augsburg the advantage on Saturday and that may be the difference between the two sides.

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