Bundesliga | Gameweek 10

Nov 10, 2024 at 2.30pm UK

WWK Arena

Augsburgvs.Hoffenheim

Match preview

Augsburg only had 30% possession against Wolfsburg, which is their second-lowest this season. They only had two shots inside the penalty area compared to the Wolves' 11.

After the draw, manager Jess Thorup said he could see his players were disappointed in the dressing room. They'd been leading from the 34th minute until the 82nd, but he still felt a draw was a good result.

Thorup's team have now gone three games unbeaten, winning two and drawing one. This is the first time they've avoided losing for three consecutive matches since March.

Fuggerstadter's 13 Bundesliga goals put them in joint 10th place for the league's best attacking clubs, but they've conceded 20 goals, which puts them in joint third place for the league's worst defensive clubs.

Augsburg have done really well at home recently, winning three of their last four games at WWK Arena. They've also drawn one and lost just one of their six home games this season.

Hoffenheim lost 2-0 to St Pauli on 2 November in their ninth league game of the season. It was a match where they didn't create many good chances.

The result left them in the relegation playoff spot in the Bundesliga, but they're level on points with 15th-placed St Pauli and three points clear of 17th-placed Holstein Kiel, who occupy the first of the division's two automatic relegation places.

Pellegrino Matarazzo's team drew 2-2 with Lyon on Thursday in their fourth Europa League match. That puts them in 19th place, just outside the round of 16 playoff spot.

Matarazzo's team have scored 13 times and conceded 19 times, which makes them the division's joint 10th best offensive and fifth-worst defensive club.

The Kraichgauer have been a bit up and down recently, winning three, drawing three and losing two of their last eight games.

The team's performance on the road has been disappointing. They haven't won any of their last six away games and have lost three times in that period.

Recent Performance

Augsburg Bundesliga form:

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Augsburg form (all competitions):

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Hoffenheim Bundesliga form:

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Hoffenheim form (all competitions):

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Team News

The hosts won't be able to choose goalkeeper Daniel Klein until mid-November, and defender Reece Oxford is out because of long-term effects of covid.

It looks like Nediljko Labrovic will be starting in goal behind a back three of Chrislain Matsima, Jeffrey Gouweleeuw and Kevin Schlotterbeck.

Midfielder Elvis Rexhbecaj is suspended, while attackers Fredrik Jensen and Ruben Vargas are ruled out, so Augsburg might field a midfield three of Frank Onyeka, Kristijan Jakic and Arne Maier behind strikers Phillip Tietz and Alexis Claude-Maurice.

Hoffenheim have a lot of players out with injuries ahead of Sunday's game, including defenders Christopher Lenz, Ozan Kabak and Stanley N'Soki.

It looks like Kevin Akpoguma, Anton Stach and Arthur Chaves will be starting as centre-backs.

Midfielders Finn Becker and Grischa Promel are not scheduled to return until March and next month, respectively. In their absence, Tom Bischof and Florian Grillitsch may start in a double pivot behind attacking midfielder Andrej Kramarić.

Ihlas Bebou is also out, so it looks like Adam Hlozek and Marius Büller will be in the forward line.

Possible starting lineups

Augsburg possible starting lineup:

Labrovic; Matsima, Gouweleeuw, Schlotterbeck; Wolf, Onyeka, Jakic, Maier, Giannoulis; Tietz, Claude-Maurice

Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:

Baumann; Chaves, Stach, Akpoguma; Gendrey, Bischof, Grillitsch, Prass; Kramaric; Hlozek, Bulter