Augsburg are becoming a bit of a nuisance for sides at the top of the Bundesliga table as they drew 2-2 with Union Berlin on Wednesday, and they are also the only team to beat leaders Bayern Munich in the league this term. If they could perform at that level consistently they’d be much better off than their current position just above the bottom three, a position probably deserved as they’re without a win in six Bundesliga games (D3, L3).
That win over Bayern actually remains their only home league victory this term (D2, L4) and was a rare example of Augsburg not falling away as the match went on. They’ve scored just once after the hour-mark in home league action this term while conceding eight goals, so one final push for the full 90 minutes is required for Augsburg to finish the first part of the season in positive fashion.
Experience told for Bochum in midweek as after naming their oldest ever Bundesliga side (average age: 31.3 years), two goals inside the opening 15 minutes were enough to beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-1 and boost their chances of escaping the bottom two before the World Cup begins. That would be quite the achievement after starting the season with six straight defeats!
However, as they need to start picking up points on the road if they are to eventually avoid relegation (L7), perhaps Augsburg are good candidates for them to get off the mark against, as Bochum won both previous H2Hs here, winning by a one-goal margin each time.
Players to watch: Augsburg’s Florian Niederlechner bagged a brace against Union Berlin and has enjoyed success against Bochum too, with four goal contributions (G1, A3) in six personal H2Hs. Bochum’s Philipp Hofmann netted early against Gladbach but four of his five goals this term arrived between the 40th and 75th minute.
Hot streak: None of Augsburg’s home league matches this term saw the half-time result replicated at full-time.
