FC Augsburg – Union Berlin
Augsburg has not lost against Union in nine consecutive Bundesliga matches, and now the two teams, both in poor form under Jess Thorup and Steffen Baumgart, will face each other in the season finale at the WWK Arena. Augsburg’s 11th place in the table with 43 points looks comfortable, but four defeats and no goals in the last three games are weighing on the mood. On the other side, Union are in 13th place with 37 points, and their 3-0 home defeat to Heidenheim spoke volumes. Essende is suspended after his early red card against Stuttgart, and Union will have to replace Diogo Leite, among others. With both clubs more focused on damage control than glory at the end of the season and rarely scoring more than two goals in direct encounters in recent years, a tactically cautious but prestigious showdown is on the cards.
Augsburg – 1. FC Union Berlin Info
- Venue: WWK Arena, Augsburg
- Date and time: May 17, 2025, 3:30 p.m.
- Competition: Bundesliga (matchday 34)
Augsburg form & record check
Augsburg dragged themselves into the final with three defeats in a row, and the 0-4 loss in Stuttgart showed why: an early man disadvantage, defensive gaps, and then a lack of punch. In four of their last five games, they remained on course for a draw after the break, but failed to improve offensively. Long-term absentees Berisha, Oxford, Banks, and Kabadayi are noticeably limiting Thorup’s options, with Claude-Maurice and Kömür once again having to provide the creative spark. At least they have long since secured their place in the league, but the team is stuck in a mental limbo between relegation fears and European dreams.
At Augsburg, everything points to the tried-and-tested 3-4-2-1 formation. Dahmen in goal, Matsima, Gouweleeuw and Zesiger in front of him as a back three, Gumny and Giannoulis on the wings. Onyeka and Jakić are expected to provide stability in the center, while Claude-Maurice and Kömür will provide creativity behind striker Tietz. Berisha, Kabadayi, Oxford, and Banks remain injured, leaving Thorup with little room for experimentation.
1. FC Union Berlin Form & Record Check
Union has been waiting for a win for five games, four of which ended in draws, before Heidenheim won 3-0 in Köpenick. Baumgart’s team looked unusually disorganized defensively, which is not least due to the absences of Leite, Kemlein, Woo-yeong Jeong, and Skov. Hollerbach continues to stand out offensively, with nine goals this season demonstrating his striking ability, but the team as a whole is pragmatic and risk-averse: in the second half, four of the last five games have seen less than 1.5 goals. With 37 points, they are through, but the winless streak is gnawing at their self-confidence.
Union are also likely to stick with a 3-4-1-2 formation in Augsburg. Vogt, Doekhi and Querfeld replace the absent Leite in defense, with Trimmel and Rothe taking over the wide roles. Tousart will play behind the strikers, with Hollerbach and Ilić starting up front. In addition to Leite, Jeong, Kemlein, Roussillon, and Skov are also out, so Baumgart is likely to rotate cautiously.
H2H Augsburg – 1. FC Union Berlin Head-to-head & statistics
Augsburg have won three of their last five competitive meetings, with the most recent league encounter in January 2024 ending 2-0 away. Union have not beaten the Swabians in nine Bundesliga games overall. Spectacle has been in short supply, with never more than two goals scored and Augsburg often keeping a clean sheet before the break. The statistics once again point to a tight, low-scoring encounter in which the psychological burden clearly lies with the visitors.
