The boys are off to Augsburg to play the team who currently sit 8th in the Bundesliga table. The game kicks off at 15:30 CET with plenty of confidence after their 3-1 victory at home on Monday night win against 1. FC Köln. FC Augsburg ended their four game winless run last weekend with a 3-1 win in Hannover. A tough battle therefore awaits.
Previous encounters: It can only get better for the Green-Whites, when you take into account the last two games. In the second half of last season Werder went there full of hope, which was bolstered by Theodore Gebre Selassie’s goal to put Werder 1-0 up. The joy however did not last long as 120 seconds later Jonathan Schmid drew the hosts level. In the 65th minute Max Kruse fired Werder back into the lead but ten minutes before the end Koo grabbed the equaliser. The match was destined for a draw but Augsburg had other ideas. In the bitterest of defeats Augsburg walked away scored with virtually the last kick of the game, winning the game 3-2. The match in the first half of this season was equally as disappointing for the Green-Whites. Two goals from Michael Gregoritsch and one from Alfred Finnbogason saw Augsburg take home the three points with a convincing 3-0 victory.
Team news: Florian Kohfeldt will again be able to call upon the full depth of his Werder squad, “We’re in a good position at the minute. Aron and Bargi will be back in training with the boys today,” said Kohfeldt of the two players who did not feature against Köln due to injury concerns. For one player however, the game against Augsburg has come too soon. Jerome Gondorf has undergone a successful appendix operation and will not be able to play in the match. “We are targeting the game against Frankfurt. He is resting up at home at the minute but he’s doing really well,” said Kohfeldt on the matter.
Kohfeldt ahead of the match: SV Werder currently have a five point gap to the relegation places and are on a good run of form, “The game in Augsburg is massively important for us in terms of our table situation. We only have a five point gap and are still in a precarious situation, so we need to keep picking up points consistently. We want to go into the international break with momentum,” said Kohfeldt with three points in sight. Kohfeldt and his side will face a consistent Augsburg side, who currently sit eighth in the Bundesliga table with 35 points. “Augsburg have picked up points the whole season. That speaks of their quality and stability. They have a clear game plan where they target second balls. They look to press early,” said Kohfeldt analysing his opponents. Kohfeldt insisted however that Werder will approach the game wanting to play the game in their own style, “There are of course ways to get Augsburg into trouble. It will be important for us to occupy the right spaces and have depth in our game.”
Goals guaranteed: The Green-Whites have played FC Augsburg 13 times in the Bundesliga and there has been at least one goal in each fixture. In fact there has been an average of 3.23 goals when the two sides meet. Draws are also rare; you have to go back six years to find the last game that finished with the points being shared.
Landmark victory: The last minute 2-1 victory in Schalke marked the 249th time Werder have won in the Bundesliga away from home. After the loss away to Freiburg and the draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach, a win in Augsburg would be the 250th victory Werder have achieved away from home.
The 12th man: An impressive 2800 Green-Whites will travel to Augsburg to support their team, where they will be looking to do the job against FCA.
The Referee: Sascha Stegemann will officiate the fixture. The 33-year-old has been a DFB referee since 2011 and in the Bundesliga since 2014. He boasts the experience of 53 top-class games. He refereed the Green-White’s 2-0 defeat to Leipzig this season. He will be assisted by Christian Fischer and Mike Pickel on the touchline, Markus Schmidt as fourth official and Dr. Jochen Drees and Timo Gerach as Video Assistants.
