<b>Bundesliga MD 25 Preview: Bayern against Augsburg</b>
A narrow victory, a draw, and another draw – these are the results of FC Bayern’s last three games against FC Augsburg. Will the Swabians prove a nuisance to the record champions once more? Our preview.The year is 2020. All of Germany can only stand by and watch as Germany’s record champions’ unstoppable march towards the Bundesliga title continues apace. All of Germany? Not quite! One small Swabian town in the Bavarian South West stubbornly resists the advance of their mighty neighbors from the state capital. And they continue to make life hard for the Bavarian legions…For whenever the small Swabians from Augsburg faced the big FC Bayern from Munich lately, things did not always turn out as expected: A 1-1 draw in the Allianz Arena in September 2018, a narrow 3-2 victory for Bayern at Augsburg in the reverse fixture later that season, and a 2-2 at the same place on matchday 08 of the current season.For these last three games, Augsburg was actually something of a small and rebellious Gallic village that proved a constant thorn in the side of their imperious neighbors. Before that, however, Augsburg suffered heavy defeats, especially away to Bayern. In all, Bayern’s home record against Augsburg speaks for itself: 12 wins, one draw, two defeats.<a href="#fc-augsburg-bayern-a-springboard-once-more"></a>FC Augsburg: Bayern a springboard once more?This devastating record notwithstanding, coach Martin Schmidt will certainly do everything in his power to continue what is, from his point of view, a fairly good run against the serial champions – and to end their own bad one in the league. Augsburg has won only four points from their last eight Bundesliga games: Only Werder Bremen (3) fared worse over the same period.Those who hold with Augsburg can point out that their opponents with RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund, Union Berlin (away), Eintracht Frankfurt, SC Freiburg, Bayer Leverkusen, Gladbach, and Bremen were an exceptionally difficult group to face. Of these matches, they could only win the contest with table neighbors Bremen. To a certain extent, there is also an analogy to the first half of the season. Back then, Augsburg could only one win one game until matchday 11, but managed four draws – one of them against Bayern.Then Augsburg suddenly started a series of six undefeated games in a row. They beat Paderborn, Hertha, Mainz, Hoffenheim and Düsseldorf, and drew against Cologne. The question is: Can Augsburg do the same trick twice? Can they use the match against Bayern to make a comeback? And if so, how?<a href="#coordination-problems"></a>Coordination problemsIn terms of formation, Bayern should expect Augsburg to start in one of the following two ways: Either in a 4-1-4-1 or a system with a flexible back five. The latter would probably give Augsburg greater defensive stability, as evidenced most recently against Leverkusen. Either way, Augsburg is generally not known for pushing up high. Instead, they prefer to play with a compact and aggressive midfield pressing. However, their back five has not yet appeared to be perfectly balanced. The Swabians have had their problems especially in dealing with fast switches of the play across the pitch.Augsburg’s wide defensive positions have been a weak point of the team throughout the season. It has been far too easy for the opposition to draw Augsburg’s full-backs out of position and thus open the way for their own attackers. This also regularly gets their teammates into trouble, as this reconstructed situation from the second half against Leverkusen demonstrates:<a href="https://miasanrot.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/03/B04FCA-960x650.jpg">Media</a><strong>Leverkusen overload on the right, Augsburg react poorly.</strong>Leverkusen overload the right side and thus provoke that Augsburg’s left-back, Philipp Max, moves out (bottom grey arrow). As a result, the left center-back feels compelled to shift outside along with Leverkusen’s…
A narrow victory, a draw, and another draw – these are the results of FC Bayern’s last three games against FC Augsburg. Will the Swabians prove a nuisance to the record champions once more? Our preview.The year is 2020. All of Germany can only stand by and watch as Germany’s record champions’ unstoppable march towards the Bundesliga title continues apace. All of Germany? Not quite! One small Swabian town in the Bavarian South West stubbornly resists the advance of their mighty neighbors from the state capital. And they continue to make life hard for the Bavarian legions…For whenever the small Swabians from Augsburg faced the big FC Bayern from Munich lately, things did not always turn out as expected: A 1-1 draw in the Allianz Arena in September 2018, a narrow 3-2 victory for Bayern at Augsburg in the reverse fixture later that season, and a 2-2 at the same place on matchday 08 of the current season.For these last three games, Augsburg was actually something of a small and rebellious Gallic village that proved a constant thorn in the side of their imperious neighbors. Before that, however, Augsburg suffered heavy defeats, especially away to Bayern. In all, Bayern’s home record against Augsburg speaks for itself: 12 wins, one draw, two defeats.<a href="#fc-augsburg-bayern-a-springboard-once-more"></a>FC Augsburg: Bayern a springboard once more?This devastating record notwithstanding, coach Martin Schmidt will certainly do everything in his power to continue what is, from his point of view, a fairly good run against the serial champions – and to end their own bad one in the league. Augsburg has won only four points from their last eight Bundesliga games: Only Werder Bremen (3) fared worse over the same period.Those who hold with Augsburg can point out that their opponents with RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund, Union Berlin (away), Eintracht Frankfurt, SC Freiburg, Bayer Leverkusen, Gladbach, and Bremen were an exceptionally difficult group to face. Of these matches, they could only win the contest with table neighbors Bremen. To a certain extent, there is also an analogy to the first half of the season. Back then, Augsburg could only one win one game until matchday 11, but managed four draws – one of them against Bayern.Then Augsburg suddenly started a series of six undefeated games in a row. They beat Paderborn, Hertha, Mainz, Hoffenheim and Düsseldorf, and drew against Cologne. The question is: Can Augsburg do the same trick twice? Can they use the match against Bayern to make a comeback? And if so, how?<a href="#coordination-problems"></a>Coordination problemsIn terms of formation, Bayern should expect Augsburg to start in one of the following two ways: Either in a 4-1-4-1 or a system with a flexible back five. The latter would probably give Augsburg greater defensive stability, as evidenced most recently against Leverkusen. Either way, Augsburg is generally not known for pushing up high. Instead, they prefer to play with a compact and aggressive midfield pressing. However, their back five has not yet appeared to be perfectly balanced. The Swabians have had their problems especially in dealing with fast switches of the play across the pitch.Augsburg’s wide defensive positions have been a weak point of the team throughout the season. It has been far too easy for the opposition to draw Augsburg’s full-backs out of position and thus open the way for their own attackers. This also regularly gets their teammates into trouble, as this reconstructed situation from the second half against Leverkusen demonstrates:<a href="https://miasanrot.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/03/B04FCA-960x650.jpg">Media</a><strong>Leverkusen overload on the right, Augsburg react poorly.</strong>Leverkusen overload the right side and thus provoke that Augsburg’s left-back, Philipp Max, moves out (bottom grey arrow). As a result, the left center-back feels compelled to shift outside along with Leverkusen’s…
