After unexpectedly finishing fifth last year, FC Augsburg have found the start to this season far harder, picking up a solitary point in their first three games of the season.
Defeats at home to Hertha BSC and newly promoted FC Ingolstadt 04 have sandwiched their solitary point obtained away at Eintracht Frankfurt, and Markus Weinzerl’s squad face the short journey to the Allianz Arena to take on Bayern Munich, who have won all three of their games so far.
But Weinzerl will take heart from the fact that they haven’t been beaten on the road in three games, their streak actually starting at the Allianz last May. Raul Bobadilla’s winner also means that Augsburg are the only Bundesliga side to beat Pep Guardiola twice, but to repeat the trick thrice would be bordering on miraculous.
Team news
Bayern star man Arjen Robben will definitely be sitting this one out after his Netherlands nightmare was made worse by picking up a groin injury in their 1-0 loss to Iceland.
Augsburg could call on a familiar face in Ja-Cheol Koo, who is back at the club after two years. Koo spent a season on loan at the WWK Arena, and could start in central midfield.
Likely Lineups
Bayern Munich: (4-2-3-1) Neuer – Alaba, Boateng, Alonso, Lahm - Vidal, Thiago - T. Müller, Götze, Douglas Costa – Lewandowski.
FC Augsburg: (4-1-4-1) Hitz - Verhaegh, Hong, Klavan, Stafylidis - Baier - Bobadilla, Koo, Halil Altintop, T. Werner - Caiuby.
Key Players
Bayern’s top scorer, Thomas Müller, will be hoping to pick up where he left off before international duty, after scoring five goals after three matchdays. Mario Götze, although signed for £32m, hasn’t been a regular for Bayern, but Robben’s injury will give him the chance to show he should play every week.
Koo should come straight into the Augsburg midfield, but faces the tricky task of getting the upper hand on Arturo Vidal and Thiago. Paul Verhaegh will be focused on too, after missing a penalty at the Allianz Arena last season.