Two Bundesliga teams seeking to return to winning way square off at the WWK ARENA on Saturday afternoon as Augsburg play host to Borussia Dortmund.
Both clubs have built a reputation as comeback kings in the German top flight this season, with Die Fuggerstadter earning a league-high 12 points from losing positions compared with BVB's 11 points gained in the same period.
Match preview
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Augsburg's impressive six-game unbeaten run in the Bundesliga was brought to an end last weekend when they suffered a 2-0 away defeat to Werder Bremen.
Goals either side of half time from Niklas Stark and Marvin Ducksch condemned Die Fuggerstadter to their fifth league loss of the campaign, but they remain in the top half of the table, sitting ninth and six points behind the European qualification places.
Jess Thorup's side will certainly welcome a return to home soil on Saturday as they have accumulated 12 of their 17 points at the WWK ARENA so far this season; only in 2014-15 (15 points) and 2013-14 (13 points) have Augsburg picked up more points in their first seven home games.
While Augsburg's form in front of their own fans is commendable, defensive frailties have prevented the club from making a serious challenge to the top six, as they have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their 15 games across all competitions this season.
Such a statistic is a worrying one for Die Fuggerstadter ahead of Saturday's contest against Dortmund, whom they have conceded more goals against (61) than any other team in the Bundesliga, including three in a 3-0 home loss last season.
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Borussia Dortmund have endured a frustrating start to December as they have failed to win any of their first four matches in the final month of the year, including a 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday.
BVB, who had already qualified for the last 16 before entering their showdown with PSG, took the lead shortly after half time through Karim Adeyemi, before Warren Zaire-Emery equalised just five minutes later to rescue a point for the French champions, sending them through along with their German counterparts to the knockout rounds.
Nevertheless, Edin Terzic will have taken plenty of positives from his side topping the 'Group of Death' and earning a seemingly favourable last-16 tie, but before they discover their next opponents in Monday's draw, Dortmund will endeavour to get their Bundesliga campaign back on track having won just one of their last six games in the top flight.
Dortmund suffered a 3-2 home defeat to Leipzig last weekend, a game in which Mats Hummels was sent off after just 15 minutes before Yussuf Poulsen scored the fifth and final goal of the game in the 91st minute to snatch all three points for the visitors.
Sitting fifth in the Bundesliga table and four points behind Leipzig in fourth, Dortmund will fancy their chances of securing a positive result on Saturday, as they have only lost three of their previous 24 Bundesliga meetings with Augsburg, winning four of their last five in the process.
Team News
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Augsburg duo Raphael Framberger (knee) and Reece Oxford (long COVID) both remain sidelined, while Dion Beljo (ankle) and Iago (thigh) are both doubtful and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Robert Gumny recovered from illness to make an appearance as a second-half substitute last weekend, and the Poland international is in contention to replace Fulham loanee Kevin Mbabu at right-back.
Thorup is unlikely to make too many changes, if any, to his starting lineup, with Ermedin Demirovic – Augsburg's top scorer this term with seven goals – set to provide support in attack for central striker Phillip Tietz, who is hoping to end a four-game goal drought.
As for Dortmund, Youssoufa Moukoko (hamstring), Julien Duranville (thigh), Felix Nmecha (hip) and Julian Ryerson (knee) all remain in the treatment room with injuries, while Hummels will serve a one-match suspension this weekend.
The absence of Hummels will likely see Nico Schlotterbeck partner Niklas Sule in the heart of the defence, while Thomas Meunier is in contention to start at right-back at the expense of Marius Wolf, who recently recovered from an ankle issue.
After missing the midweek Champions League draw with PSG through suspension, Emre Can is set to return to the first XI and could link arms with either Salih Ozcan or Marcel Sabitzer in centre-midfield, allowing Julian Brandt to operate further forward in behind Niclas Fullkrug, who scored his fifth goal of the season against Leipzig last weekend.
Augsburg possible starting lineup:
Dahmen; Mbabu, Gouweleeuw, Uduokhai, Pedersen; Rexhbecaj, Dorsch; Jensen, Demirovic, Vargas; Tietz
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Meunier, Sule, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Sabitzer, Can; Reus, Brandt, Bynoe-Gittens; Fullkrug
We say: Augsburg 1-2 Borussia Dortmund
A closely-fought contest between two teams eager to bounce back from defeats last weekend is set to take place on Saturday, but Dortmund will be regarded as the favourites to come out on top.
Augsburg have favoured playing in front of their own fans so far this season, but Dortmund have enjoyed their recent meetings with Die Fuggerstadter and should ultimately have enough firepower to outscore their opponents.
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Top tip
Oliver Thomas
