Augsburg v Borussia Dortmund: Preview, Team News, Predicted XI | Bundesliga 2018-19
Relegation-threatened Augsburg will welcome league leaders Borussia Dortmund to the Augsburg Arena in a crucial match for both the teams. With just 13 matches remaining in the league, Augsburg finds themselves just 2 points above the relegation zone with 18 points from their 23 matches.
Manuel Baum and his men have won just once since the turn of the New Year and have won just once in 15 matches in all competitions with their only win coming up against Mainz at the starting of this month. Augsburg will need to rediscover their winning run if they are to survive in the league.
After almost running away with the Bundesliga in the first half of the season, Borussia Dortmund now find themselves in a real title race with rivals Bayern Munich. The Bavarians closed the gap between the two sides to just 3 points after a mesmerizing run that saw them winning 10 of their last 12 league matches since losing to Dortmund.
February has so far been a poor month for the Die Borussen with the side winning just once in all competitions with Lucie Favre and his men going out in the DFB Pokal to Bremen while losing 3-0 against Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League first leg. A win today will see Dortmund opening a 6-point lead over rivals Bayer Munich.
The first encounter between the sides ended in a thrilling 4-3 victory for Lucien Favre's men with Paco Alcacer scoring his first hattrick for Dortmund.
Team News
Augsburg
Striker Alfred Finnbogason is expected to be missing from the Augsburg lineup with the Icelandic International having just returned to training. Captain Daniel Baier is expected to be in the lineup after being forced off in their last match.
Raphael Framberger (knee), Jeffrey Gouweleeuw (groin), Andreas Luthe (knee) and Julian Schieber (muscular) are all doubtful for the fixture while Reece Oxford will be missing out due to suspension.
Borussia Dortmund
Christian Pulisic will be missing from the Dortmund lineup after the American international is out with a hamstring injury. Lukasz Piszczek is another name that is doubtful with the Polish international still recovering from a heel injury
Probable Lineups
Augsburg (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Schmid, Khedira, Danso, Stafylidis; Moravek, Baier; Ji, Koo, Max; Gregoritsch
Borussia Dortmund (4-2-31): Bürki; Hakimi, Akanji, Zagadou, Diallo; Witsel, Delaney; Sancho, Reus, Guerreiro; Götze