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FC Augsburg – TSG Hoffenheim
February is slowly hanging its sails in the wind again, as the penultimate weekend this month is already upon us. And this weekend, the Bundesliga enters its 21st round. On Friday, the match day starts with an exciting relegation duel. TSG Hoffenheim, which has been completely out of form lately, travels to Augsburg, its neighbour in the standings. Find out who has a better chance in the relegation thriller in our Augsburg vs Hoffenheim tip.
FC Augsburg is once again in a relegation battle this season. The Fuggerstädter are currently in 13th place in the table. Despite the successes in the last two home games, FCA didn’t stand a chance last weekend in Mainz. The Augsburgers lost clearly with 1:3.
Meanwhile, the situation at Hoffenheim is even more precarious. TSG is one place below FCA and has been winless in the Bundesliga for ten games. Last Saturday, Hoffenheim lost 3-1 at home to Leverkusen.
Augsburg – Hoffenheim Info:
– Date & Time: 17.02.2023, 20:30 hrs.
– Venue: WWK ARENA, Augsburg
– Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 21
– TV broadcast: DAZN
Augsburg Form & Balance Check
Augsburg FC have been going through many ups and downs this season. After suffering four defeats in their first five games, coach Enrico Maaßen’s team suddenly celebrated three wins in a row – including a triumph against FC Bayern. However, this was followed by another eight games in which Augsburg only picked up a meagre three points.
However, Augsburg got their form back under control in the last two home games. They beat both Borussia Mönchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen 1-0, but then lost 3-1 in their away match against Mainz last Saturday. FCA are currently 13th in the table.
Friday matches very popular
In the new year, FCA has apparently rediscovered its home strength. Augsburg are still without a point loss at home in the WWK Arena so far in 2023. However, the Fuggerstädter usually do not offer their fans a great spectacle. Augsburg have only scored nine goals in their own stadium this season.
However, Augsburg can be particularly happy about the weekday. FCA won the last five Friday matches in the Bundesliga. This season, Leverkusen and Bremen have already felt Augsburg’s Friday strength. The last time the Fuggerstädter lost on a Friday evening was on 22.10.2021. At that time, the away match against Mainz was lost 1:4.
Augsburg facts & analysis
– Won five Friday games in a row.
– Only eleven points at home
– Four times to nil in the Bundesliga
Hoffenheim form & balance check
At the beginning of this season, many experts traded TSG Hoffenheim with coach André Breitenreiter as a hot candidate for international business. After eight games, TSG stood in fifth place in the table with only two defeats. However, this was followed by a series of horrors. One defeat followed the other.
On Monday before last, coach Breitenreiter was finally suspended. In the meantime, Pellegrino Matarazzo has been presented as his successor. However, the former Stuttgart coach was not able to turn things around last weekend. TSG lost 1:3 at home to Bayer Leverkusen. Hoffenheim have now gone winless in the league for ten games, picking up just two full points in that span.
Defensive Surrender
Hoffenheim’s main problem this season has been their holey defence. The Kraichgauer have already conceded 39 goals in the Bundesliga this season. Only VfL Bochum and Schalke 04 have conceded more.
Especially in the new year, glaring gaps in Hoffenheim’s defence became apparent. TSG conceded a staggering 17 goals in their first five league games in 2023. Even winter newcomer John Anthony Brooks has not yet managed to solve the problems in the TSG defence.
Hoffenheim facts & analysis
– Without a win for ten league games.
– With one point so far in the new year
– Best provider of assists is Angeliño with six
Predicted line-up – last update on 17 February 2023
Augsburg last played in a classic 4-4-2, with Berisha and Beljo most likely to operate together again in the forward line. Full-back Pedersen rejoined team training on Wednesday. However, Friday’s clash against Hoffenheim will probably be too early for him. Hahn, Cardona, Vargas, Strobl, Iago and Oxford are all still missing through injury.
New coach Matarazzo will again operate with a three-man backline. The actual centre-back Kevin Akpoguma will probably, of necessity, once again operate on the right side as a full-back. Dolberg could replace Bebou in the forward line. Young Tom Bischof could also move into the starting eleven in place of the yellow-suspended Geiger. All in all, TSG will again be more defensively oriented. Hoffenheim will have to do without Bruun Larsen, Skov, Kaderabek and Prömel.
Augsburg – Hoffenheim direct comparison & Statistics
Both teams have met 35 times so far. Augsburg have only won eleven games against TSG, while Hoffenheim have won 18 direct duels. FCA lost the first leg 0:1 at the PreZero Arena. The scorer on TSG’s side in August was Dennis Geiger, who was suspended on Friday.
– Hoffenheim’s last away win at Schalke in October.
– Augsburg win 24% of halves, Hoffenheim win 22%.
– When Augsburg lead 1-0 in home games, they win 78% of matches
– Hoffenheim have conceded one goal in each of their last 17 matches
