After their humiliating defeat against Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, Nuri Sahin's Borussia Dortmund will hope to bounce back when they travel to face Augsburg at WWK Arena on Saturday in their eighth Bundesliga game of the season.
Dortmund lost 5-2 against Real last time out and are seventh in the league with 13 points, while the hosts are fourth last in 15th place with just seven points from seven games and lost 3-1 against Freiburg last Saturday.
Match preview
© Imago
Though Augsburg conceded three times against Freiburg, their opponents only created one big chance, one fewer than the Fuggerstadter.
The hosts proved to be defensively frail this term, and their record of 18 goals conceded makes them the second-worst defensive team in the top flight.
Boss Jess Thorup said prior to his side's match against Freiburg that the game would be a good indicator of his team's current standing, and it is fair to say that his club seem likely to be involved in a relegation battle over the course of the season.
Thorup's side have won two and lost three of their last five league games but have been beaten in nine of their 12 most recent Bundesliga fixtures.
To their credit, Augsburg have won two, drawn one and lost just one of their last four top-flight matches at WWK Arena, while they have lost three, drawn two and won five of their last 10 Bundesliga games at home.
© Imago
Meanwhile, Dortmund come into the clash having lost against Real despite initially leading 2-0 by the half-time interval and not conceding until the 60th minute.
If there was one positive to take from the match it was that youngster Jamie Bynoe-Gittens managed to score and continued to showcase his immense talent.
Sahin took responsibility for the defeat, highlighting his decision to switch to a back three from a back four system in the 55th minute as a significant turning point in the game.
His side beat newly-promoted St Pauli 2-1 last Friday, a match in which BVB produced six big chances but still faced two themselves.
Dortmund have lost two of their last three games and have conceded nine goals in that period, though they did win five of the previous seven matches in all competitions.
The visitors have also lost their three most recent games on the road, conceding 12 times, while they have been beaten in four and drawn one of their last five away Bundesliga games while conceding on 14 occasions.
Team News
© Imago
The hosts will have to contend with the absence of goalkeeper Daniel Klein, as well as defender Mads Valentin Pedersen, until early and late November respectively.
Winger Fredrik Jensen and attacking midfielder Ruben Vargas are also not scheduled to return until next month, so expect Samuel Essende and Phillip Tietz to start up front.
Frank Onyeka, Kristijan Jakic and Elvis Rexhbecaj are probable candidates to feature in a midfield three.
As for Dortmund, they will be unable to select Karim Adeyemi due to a hamstring injury, while Yan Couto is also out because of a muscle issue.
Winger Julien Duranville and attacker Giovanni Reyna are not scheduled to return until next month, and centre-back Niklas Sule is a doubt.
Waldemar Anton and Nico Schlotterbeck are the most likely pair to start in the heart of defence, while Emre Can and Pascal Gross could replace Marcel Sabitzer and Felix Nmecha, who both started in midfield against Real Madrid.
Augsburg possible starting lineup:
Labrovic; Bauer, Gouweleeuw, Matsima; Wolf, Onyeka, Jakic, Rexhbecaj, Giannoulis; Essende, Tietz
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Ryerson, Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Can, Gross; Sabitzer, Brandt, Gittens; Guirassy
We say: Augsburg 2-2 Borussia Dortmund
While Sahin will hope that his side can bounce back in convincing fashion against Augsburg, it is difficult to overlook his side's poor defensive record.
Additionally, Dortmund have been poor away from home in recent Bundesliga matches, and it would not be surprising if Augsburg managed to earn a point on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
