FC Augsburg has been playing in the Bundesliga for ten seasons. Although the Swabians got stuck in the Bundesliga, they mostly ended up in the bottom third of the table. However, the FCA is gradually getting rid of the label as an eternal underdog in the anniversary season.
So went the first half of the season
The first half of the season at FC Augsburg was mainly shaped by one topic: relegation battle. From matchday one, Markus Weinzierl’s team was in the table basement. Since the sixth game day, the FCA has been moving back and forth between 15th and 16th place – and thus between relegation and relegation. Not exactly what the Augsburgers had hoped for before the season. Not surprising either.
Weak phases and better performances alternated without the FCA plunging deep into the crisis or flying high. The Markus Weinzierl could always rely on the performance of his goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz. Newcomer Niklas Dorsch and defender Reece Oxford also became top performers in the first half of the season.
The highlight of the first half of the season was definitely the surprising 2-1 win against FC Bayern. Goals by André Hahn and Mads Pedersen had put the FCA on the road to victory early on; the determined defense and a good performance by Gikiewicz kept the favorites at the necessary distance until the final whistle. The biggest defeat (0: 4) was against TSG Hoffenheim on the first day of the match – against them at the start of the second half on January 8th.
Who is coming, who is going?
There are currently no firm commitments or departures. Rumors of Danny Da Costa’s move from league rivals Eintracht Frankfurt to Swabia persist. FC Bayern’s junior player Nemanja Motika has also been a possible candidate for a move for weeks. On the other hand, there is speculation whether defense chief Felix Uduokhai could leave the club.
FCA continues to rely on Markus Weinzierl
In April 2021, Markus Weinzierl took over FC Augsburg for the second time. On the ninth day of the match, the coach’s chair wobbled slightly. After the 4-1 defeat against Mainz it “really crashed”, club boss Klaus Hofmann reported to the Augsburger Allgemeine at the time. But Hofmann stuck to Weinzierl and manager Stefan Reuters: “The content was discussed. At the end of all discussions there is the conviction that we will be successful together again in our constellation. ”
Expectations for the season:
More consistent performance, fewer injuries and failures, an offensive that radiates significantly more goal danger and not only scores 17 goals in 17 games, but also a good cushion on the table cellar: Weinzierl and those in charge of the FCA would certainly be very happy about that. But the big goal is very simple: Relegation. Especially the phase before the winter break gives reason to hope that this can work.