Der Aufgang: FC Augsburg

Against a struggling Schalke side, Augsburg allowed Markus Weinzierl to take all three points against his former side as Naldo was left unmarked to fire the home side in front after Caiuby’s stunning strike had levelled the scores at the VELTINS Arena. However Augsburg were able to bounce back as two members of the clubs East Asian contingent fired in goals against Frankfurt in a comfortable 2-0 win. A cup exit at the hands of SV Darmstadt followed after Georg Teigl’s sending off, before the following weekend Augsburg secured consecutive victories for the first time this season by coming from behind to beat Hoffenheim at the WIRSOL Rhein-Neckar Arena.













Koo Ja-Cheol

The South Korean midfielder, has adapted well to life in the middle of the park in one of Dirk Schuster’s box to box midfield roles. Despite only scoring once, in the 2-0 win over Frankfurt, Koo has impressed with his work rate and determination to aid his team both going forward and defensively and will be hopeful of keeping the returning Jan Moravek out of the side.




Augsburg head into November knowing that they could and probably should come out of the month with a healthy points tally as Die Fuggerstadter play all four sides in the bottom four positions in the league. Up first is the visit of Darmstadt to the WWK Arena before Borussia Monchengladbach make the trip after the International break. Then a week later, Augsburg travel to meet newly promoted Freiburg before welcoming Ingolstadt to the WWK Arena on the 30th.


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We are very happy to be coming out of October with two consecutive wins on our backs for the first time in my time here. The defeat to Schalke was frustrating as I felt we deserved a better result than we got but we were punished for some poor defending from set pieces and Schalke got the result they wanted. However we were much better against Frankfurt where we eased to a 2-0 win before coming from behind against Hoffenheim which was even more pleasing, especially as I felt we were the better side throughout the whole tie. We move into November knowing that we’re going to be playing a set of fixtures we can be confident of getting points from and we’re going to give it our best shot.

BUNDESLIGA PREVIEW: FC AUGSBURG VS. BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH

Date: 19 November 2016
Kick Off: 15:30


FC Augsburg
Based In: Augsburg
Position: 9th
Manager: Dirk Schuster
Captain: Paul Verhaegh
Key Player: Daniel Baier
Injuries & Suspensions:
Last Match: 3-0 Vs. SV Darmstadt 98
Form:

Fans Prediction: ”We just need to find some consistency at the minute and then I think we’ll be set. At times we’re playing some really nice football and I think that Schuster is moving us in the right direction. We look good going forward but our defence has looked a little leaky of late and that’s why we’ve lost three of our last five. Having said some hard work on the training pitch could put that right. Gladbach really aren’t enjoying their start to the season and we have to take the most of that and go out there and get the three points, but ultimately I think they’ll take something so a draw is on the cards.”


Borussia Monchengladbach
Based In: Monchengladbach
Position: 17th
Manager: Andre Schubert
Captain: Lars Stindl
Key Player: Raffael
Injuries & Suspensions:
Last Match: 2-2 Vs. FC Bayern Munchen
Form:

Fans Prediction: ”It’s safe to say we’re not having a good season at all. Schubert rescued us last year and got us back into the Champions League but this year it’s not going to plan and he’d better turn it around quick otherwise we could be relegation candidates. Augsburg are inconsistent at the minute but do look to be progressing under Schuster and depending on which side turns up will decide this result. If Augsburg at their best turn up we’ll lose but if the one that played against Darmstadt the other week we could get some more points on the board.”

Augsburg’s two match winning streak was ended in their first game in November as relegation threatened Darmstadt turned up to the WWK Arena and put three past Dirk Schuster’s side without reply to seal a memorable win against their former manager. After the international break, Augsburg fans were left with their head in their hands after the side gave away a two goal lead as they drew 2-2 with Borussia Monchengladbach. The days of back to back wins against Frankfurt and Hoffenheim were beginning to fade towards the end of the month as Freiburg were the latest side to take three points against Augsburg as a Janik Haberer gave the home side a 1-0 win. However Augsburg were able to see out the month with a win as two goals in five minutes helped Dirk Schuster’s side to a 2-1 win over relegation threatened Ingolstadt.















Jan Moravek

In a relatively poor month for Augsburg in terms of results, Jan Moravek, the clubs Czech midfielder is taking home the Player of the Month award. Despite neither scoring or assisting over the course of the month, the Czech midfielders all round play was excellent and Moravek managed to create a lot of chances which were unfortunately not taken by the clubs forwards.




December sees the Bundesliga campaign reach its half way point with Augsburg starting the month at the Bay Arena against second placed Leverkusen with Roger Schmidt’s side looking the most likely to push Bayern for the title this year. A week later Borussia Dortmund who have recovered their form of late come to the WWK Arena in a tie that will be of the highest difficulty for Dirk Schuster’s side. Struggling and managerless Wolfsurg then host Schuster’s side before Augsburg play their final game before the winter break at the WWK Arena against Hamburg SV.



27.11.16: Wolfsburg were the first Bundesliga side to remove their manager as Paolo Sousa was dismissed with the club sitting just above the relegation zone.



Not the month we had been hoping for to be honest. Coming up against the four sides sitting in the lowest positions in the league should have been an opportunity for us to move ourselves forward and up the league but it didn’t happen. Admittedly we were somewhat unfortunate to throw away a 2 goal lead against Monchengladbach and then lose the way we did against Freiburg. The real worry though was the defeat to Darmstadt and if we perform like that on a regular basis we’ll be looking down the table rather than the way we want to which is up.