FC Augsburg vs. FSV Mainz 05
Sandro Wagner’s FC Augsburg welcomes a struggling Mainz 05 to the WWK Arena on Saturday afternoon. Mainz are stuck in 15th place in the table after three matchdays without a win and with only one measly point. The hosts are in a better position with three points, but have lost twice in a row and will be without regulars such as Keven Schlotterbeck and Dimitrios Giannoulis. While Augsburg suffered predictable defeats against Bayern Munich (2-3) and St. Pauli (1-2) after their surprising 3-1 opening win in Freiburg, Mainz are still waiting for their first three points and remain without a win after painful defeats against Cologne and Leipzig. At least Samuel Essende is returning to the Fuggerstadt team after his red card suspension, while Bo Henriksen still has to do without Benedict Hollerbach and Jae-sung Lee, which further weakens the already weak offense of the Rheinhessen team.
- Venue: WWK Arena, Augsburg
- Date and time: 20.09.2025, 3:30 p.m.
- Competition: Bundesliga (Matchday 4)
Augsburg form & record check
FC Augsburg presents a mixed picture after three match days. With three points in 11th place, level on points with Stuttgart and just one point behind Leverkusen, the situation is not yet cause for concern. The opening victory against Freiburg was a stroke of luck, with the Fuggerstadt team making the most of their few chances before the break, even though the expected goals painted a different picture. Against Bayern Munich, the team held their own against the record champions despite Robin Fellhauer’s concussion, which bodes well for the tasks ahead. However, the recent 1-2 defeat at St. Pauli revealed the team’s weaknesses: despite Rieder’s opening goal, the team failed to hold on to their lead, with Zesiger conceding a costly own goal. Augsburg have scored in every game so far, but have also conceded in every game, which underlines Wagner’s offensive approach. Essende’s return opens up new tactical possibilities.
Sandro Wagner is likely to revert to his preferred 3-4-2-1 formation. Dahmen will be in goal, with Matsima, Gouweleeuw, and Zesiger forming the back three. Wagner will have to continue to improvise: Kade is out with ankle problems, Giannoulis is struggling with a thigh injury, and Bauer is unavailable after a knock. Wolf and Rexhbecaj could occupy the wide positions, with Jakic and Massengo stabilizing the central midfield. In attack, everything points to Rieder and Saad in the supporting roles, with Essende as the striker. The Frenchman, returning from a red card suspension, could replace Kömür, who has been filling in recently. This lineup remains speculation until the official announcement.
Mainz Form & Record Check
Mainz 05’s form gives little cause for hope. With one point from three games and only one goal scored, the team is in 15th place. After a goalless start against Cologne and Amiri’s late penalty equalizer in Wolfsburg, the team also failed to score in their 0-1 home defeat against Leipzig. The statistics from the last five games show a worrying pattern: Mainz conceded goals in all games and failed to score a single goal in the second half. Personnel problems are exacerbating the situation considerably, as Hollerbach and Lee, two important offensive players, are missing, while Bos and Tauer are not eligible to play. Hollerbach’s absence weighs particularly heavily on an already thin offense. The Conference League qualifier against Rosenborg (4-1 in the second leg) proved the team’s potential, but they have been unable to carry that form into the Bundesliga. Bo Henriksen faces the difficult task of motivating a team that has been waiting weeks for its first league win.
Bo Henriksen is expected to respond to his personnel problems with the usual 3-4-2-1 formation. The loss of Jae-sung Lee weighs heavily, as the South Korean usually provides a lot of creativity. Benedict Hollerbach is still out with injury. Zentner will be in goal, with a back three of da Costa, Bell, and Kohr in front of him. Mwene and Caci are likely to provide pace on the wings, with Sano and Amiri pulling the strings in the center. Up front, Henriksen could rely on Nordin, Bøving, and Weiper as strikers. This lineup is only a prediction, as the final squad will not be announced until shortly before kickoff.
H2H Augsburg – Mainz Head-to-head comparison & statistics
The record from the last five meetings favors Mainz: three wins for the 05ers, one win for Augsburg, and one draw. The most recent encounter was a goalless draw in February 2024. Mainz’s dominance in the first half is striking, with the Rheinhessen side scoring before the break in four of the last five games, while Augsburg fell behind four times. Things usually quieten down after the break, with a maximum of one goal scored in the second half in three of the last five games. The home advantage is not clear-cut, with both teams winning at home. Mainz won their home games against Augsburg 1-0 (2024) and 3-1 (2023). Today’s match at the WWK Arena could be another close affair, especially as both teams have their own concerns.
With Essende’s return, Augsburg once again has a genuine target player, while Mainz remains severely limited in attack without Lee and Hollerbach. ‘Under 1.5 goals in the second half’ at 1.67 seems particularly attractive, especially as the visitors have never conceded more than one goal after the break this season and are hampered by personnel problems in attack. Augsburg’s tendency to strike early supports this assessment. The brave could go for “Over 3.5 goals” at 3.35, as Wagner’s team has produced over 2.5 goals in four of their last five games. Despite their defensive vulnerability, Mainz still has Amiri’s set-piece quality for additional goals.
