Key Facts
- Augsburg are just one point behind HSV and three ahead of Mainz with 15 points; in the relegation battle, another slip-up could increase the pressure massively.
- Freiburg travels to a tight midfield in eighth place (23 points), level on points with Union and four points behind Frankfurt; a win would stabilize their European prospects.
- Augsburg’s recent games have been low-scoring (four of the last five under 2.5), and the team has failed to score after the break; even against ten-man Union, they conceded a late 1-1 equalizer.
- Freiburg was unbeaten before the 0-2 defeat in Leipzig, winning 2-1 against HSV thanks to goals from Grifo and Matanovic; according to the tip, they won four second halves in a row.
- Because Augsburg has to do without center backs Matsima and Gouweleeuw, they have an improvised back three; the odds of 2.5 on Freiburg therefore seem generous and also support “Both teams to score: No.”
Matchday 18 of the Bundesliga brings FC Augsburg and SC Freiburg together at the WWK Arena: Manuel Baum faces Julian Schuster, and there are many indications that it will be a close game. Augsburg is in 15th place with 15 points, one point behind Hamburger SV and only three ahead of Mainz. Freiburg is eighth with 23 points, four behind Frankfurt and level on points with Union – and the betting market also expects a very evenly matched game. Augsburg’s league form has been inconsistent recently, and the 1-1 draw against Union (conceded in injury time against ten men) was a missed opportunity for Baum. The loan signing of Ribeiro and the return of Gregoritsch underline the need for more going forward, especially with Matsima and Gouweleeuw missing. Freiburg are coming off a 2-0 defeat in Leipzig, before which they beat HSV 2-1 – with Grifo and Matanovic as the goalscorers. This fixture ended 3-1 in August and 0-0 here last March.
- Venue: WWK Arena, Augsburg
- Date and time: January 18, 2026, 5:30 p.m.
- Competition: Bundesliga (matchday 18)
Despite a fairly balanced market, Freiburg is listed at 2.5 – which seems generous, because Augsburg has to do without Matsima and Gouweleeuw in central defense and has recently had little impact overall, including the last-minute 1-1 draw against Union, even though the opponent was down to ten men. Schuster’s team was unbeaten until the defeat in Leipzig and often controls the second halves. Therefore, an away win and a draw or an away win are suitable, while Augsburg’s slump also supports the option: Both teams to score: No.
Augsburg form & record check
FC Augsburg goes into matchday 18 in 15th place in the table with 15 points, just one behind Hamburger SV and only three ahead of Mainz. Their recent Bundesliga form has been cautious, with four of their last five games ending with less than 2.5 goals. The worrying pattern is what happens after the break, as they have failed to score in the second half during this phase and often let games slip away.
Baum is likely to stick with a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Dahmen behind a makeshift back three of Banks, Schlotterbeck, and Zesiger. With Matsima and Gouweleeuw out, Augsburg could rely even more consistently on Baum’s approach: keep it simple, defend compactly, take fewer risks in build-up play, and then, as soon as the ball is won, switch quickly and vertically. This structure also protects the center when the wingbacks push forward.
Freiburg Form & Record Check
SC Freiburg travels to Augsburg in eighth place with 23 points, stuck in a tight midfield where one result can immediately shift the entire narrative. They are level on points with Union Berlin directly behind them, and Eintracht Frankfurt is only four points ahead, so Europe is at least within sight. This weekend, there’s also the Gregoritsch story, now an Augsburg player, even though Schuster emphasizes that soccer comes first.
Schuster is likely to stick with a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Atubolu behind Kübler, Ogbus, Jung, and Günter. Höfler and Eggestein will probably secure the center so that Grifo can move in from the left, while Suzuki works between the lines. Up front, Höler seems like the safest choice to lead the pressing and be present in the penalty area.
Augsburg – Freiburg Head-to-head & statistics
The last five encounters have been completely even: two wins and one draw each. The most recent meeting in August 2025 went to Augsburg, a 3-1 away win after a 0-0 draw in March 2025. Prior to that, Freiburg had won two home games in a row in 2024 and 2023, while Augsburg narrowly won the home game in 2024 by a score of 2-1.
