The SGL Arena is starting to become a fortress for Augsburg who have lost just one of their last eleven home games in the Bundesliga. Their last defeat coming on Matchday 15 where league leaders Bayern dominated die Fuggerstädter 4-0.
The 05ers have had a torrid run of away form. They’ve failed to register a win away from the Coface Area in ten games losing five and drawing the other five. Their worst run in 2011/12 where they went twelve games unbeaten.
Mainz won this fixture 2-1 at the Coface Arena in October. Hosts Augsburg won this fixture last season at the SGL Arena, beating 10-men Mainz 2-1, thanks to an Andre Hahn brace.
Team News:
Augsburg:
Bayern Munich loanee Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg is set to be in the squad again after being fit again. Putting pressure on Dominik Kohr who is on the wing in Höjbjerg’s absence.
Dong-Won Ji and Caiuby will fight it out for a spot in Markus Weinzierl starting line up.
Weinzierl will be without a number of players including Alexander Esswein, Paul Verhaegh, Dominik Reinhardt, Sascha Mölders and Jan Moravek.
Mainz 05:
Joo-Ho Park and Pierre Bengtsson will be in contention for a spot at left back for the visitors.
As loanee Jonas Hofmann may replace fellow loanee Christian Clemens on the wing after a spell of six games in the Mainz line up, where they only managed two wins with him in the line up.
The only other notable absences are Spaniard Jairo Samperio, Christoph Moritz and long term absentee Todor Nedelev after suffering a metatarsal fracture.
Stadium SGL-Arena:
The stadium has a capacity of 30,660 with 19,060 seats and standing room for 11,034. A second phase of construction could expand capacity to 49,000 in the future. It replaced the club's previous stadium, Rosenaustadion.
The Construction cost €45million and was opened in 2009 after being designed by Bernhard & Kögl.
Form
Augsburg: W, D, L, D, L, W.
Recent Matches: Borussia Dortmund W (1-0), Eintracht Frankfurt D (2-2), Werder Bremen L (3-2), Bayer Leverkusen D (2-2), Hertha Berlin L (2-1), Wolfsburg W (1-0).
Home Form: W, W, D, D, W.
Mainz: D, L, L, W, L, D.
Recent Matches: Hannover D (1-1), Hertha Berlin L (0-2), Borussia Dortmund L (4-2), Eintracht Frankfurt W (3-1), Hoffenheim L (2-0), Borussia Mönchengladbach D (2-2).
Away Form: D, D, L, L.
