Preview: Augsburg vs Schalke 04 – prediction, team news, lineups

Schalke 04 will finish their three-yr Bundesliga exile on Sunday night once they journey to the WWK Arena to face Augsburg of their season opener.

While the Royal Blues return to Germany’s high flight, Augsburg are making ready for his or her sixteenth consecutive Bundesliga marketing campaign as certainly one of simply six golf equipment but to endure relegation from the competitors.

Match preview

Augsburg had been saved final season by the arrival of Manuel Baum, who took a relegation-threatened aspect and turned them right into a strong mid-desk outfit.

Baum initially returned to the membership as an interim alternative for Sandro Wagner in December, however a swift upturn in outcomes satisfied the Augsburg hierarchy handy him the job on a everlasting foundation.

The 46-yr-outdated, who beforehand managed Augsburg between 2016 and 2019, has now been handed a two-yr contract and has overseen a serious overhaul of the squad.

As many as 16 gamers have departed, with Augsburg producing severe funds from the gross sales of Dimitris Giannoulis, Keven Schlotterbeck and Cedric Zesiger.

Those departures have been offset by quite a lot of new arrivals, with Rodrigo Ribeiro costing greater than £4m and representing the membership’s largest summer season funding.

Augsburg have additionally made Michael Gregoritsch‘s return everlasting after the striker spent final season on mortgage on the membership, ending as their main scorer with six targets.

The summer season rebuild has already produced an encouraging outcome, with Baum’s aspect opening their marketing campaign with a 2-0 victory over Energie Cottbus within the first spherical of the DFB-Pokal.

Augsburg will now look to hold that momentum into Sunday’s Bundesliga opener, which can see them welcome Schalke for his or her first league assembly on the WWK Arena since 2023.

© Iconsport / Mario Hommes, DeFodi Images

Schalke are again within the Bundesliga after a 3-yr absence, returning to the elite as 2. Bundesliga champions following an excellent marketing campaign final time period.

The seven-time German champions completed high of the second tier with 70 factors and in addition boasted the most effective defensive report throughout Germany’s high three divisions, underlining simply how spectacular their promotion season was.

The problem now could be to place their latest Bundesliga struggles behind them, having received simply two of their final 45 away matches within the competitors.

They may have the expertise of Edin Dzeko to name upon, with the 40-yr-outdated remaining on the membership and set to grow to be the fourth-oldest participant in Bundesliga historical past.

The Bosnian striker scored six instances in 11 appearances final season and made an instantaneous influence within the DFB-Pokal final weekend, scoring twice as Schalke swept apart Hallescher.

Austrian head coach Miron Muslic has additionally welcomed a bunch of latest arrivals, together with Satoshi Tanaka, Junior Dina Ebimbe, Maximilian Wober, Robin Gosens and goalkeeper Kevin Muller. 

Augsburg type (all competitions):

Schalke 04 type (all competitions):

Team News

© Iconsport / Max Maiwald, DeFodi Images

Augsburg are comparatively harm-free forward of the beginning of the brand new Bundesliga season.

Nevertheless, there are issues about Steve Mounie, who continues to be engaged on his match health. 

Tim Breithaupt is one other doubt, given his ongoing toe issues. He could need to accept a spot on the sidelines.

Last season’s high goalscorer for Augsburg, Gregoritsch, is predicted to guide the assault for Baum’s males. 

When it involves Schalke, there are a handful of names that will probably be compelled to take a seat out Sunday’s season opener. 

Adrian Gantenbein, as an illustration, is battling an ankle drawback, whereas Emil Hojlund continues to be recovering from his heel surgical procedure.

There are additionally query marks over Bryan Lasme, who stays on the sidelines with a calf drawback.

Dzeko bagged a powerful double within the cup final weekend, however count on Moussa Sylla to guide the assault from the primary whistle. 

Augsburg potential beginning lineup:

Dahmen; Matsima, Gouweleeuw, Brackelmann; Wolf, Massengo, Rieder, Behrens; Kade, Fellhauer; Gregoritsch

Schalke 04 potential beginning lineup:

Karius; Becker, Katic, Kurucay; Ljubicic, Schallenberg, El-Faouzi, Becker; Karaman, Aouchiche; Sylla

We say: Augsburg 2-1 Schalke 04

Schalke are again within the elite, and so they have been handed a difficult opening fixture away at Augsburg. 

Only 4 golf equipment have picked up extra factors than Augsburg since Baum’s arrival, and we predict the hosts to choose up from the place they left off. 

For knowledge evaluation of the almost definitely outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.