Key Facts
- Dortmund is under pressure following its 1-4 elimination from the Champions League, but remains in second place in the Bundesliga with 55 points.
- Dortmund’s defense appears vulnerable: BVB has conceded goals in four of its last five matches (including against Bayern, Leipzig, and Atalanta).
- Augsburg is traveling despite three defensive absences (Matsima, Gouweleeuw, Keitel); the back three of Zesiger, Schlotterbeck, and Chaves is consequently less experienced and more vulnerable.
- Augsburg coach Baum is openly calling for the three points; Augsburg has won three straight games and holds an even head-to-head record against Dortmund in their last five meetings.
- In four of the last five direct encounters, both teams scored, though no goals were scored after halftime in those matches—the first half is likely to be decisive.
- Statistically, there are plenty of goals: Dortmund has scored over 2.5 goals in about 80% of their recent matches; Augsburg’s defensive struggles and Dortmund’s attacking trio (Guirassy, Beier, Nmecha) point to a high-scoring game.
BVB is still reeling from their Champions League exit against Atalanta. The Bergamo side turned a 2-0 first-leg lead into a commanding 4-1 victory in Bergamo, and Niko Kovač now faces the task of quickly getting his team’s heads back in the game. At least there are some positive signs: Felix Nmecha has extended his contract until 2030, even though Julian Brandt will be leaving the club in the summer.
- Venue: Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund
- Date and time: March 14, 2026, 3:30 PM
- Competition: Bundesliga (Matchday 26)
Both teams have been scoring regularly lately, and Augsburg’s defensive crisis—with Matsima, Gouweleeuw, and Keitel out, plus Banks listed as doubtful—increases the likelihood that BVB will find space. Dortmund has conceded goals in four of their last five matches, which suggests goals for both sides. Given Dortmund’s struggles at home and Augsburg’s decent recent form, the Double Chance X2 offers real value, despite the visitors’ injury concerns.
Dortmund Form & Record Check
Dortmund has recently stabilized with a 2-1 away win at Cologne. Guirassy scored early, Beier added another, and although a red card for the home side simplified the game, BVB already had the match under control before the sending-off.
Their other recent results, however, have been mixed: A heavy 1-4 loss to Atalanta in the Champions League second leg wiped out the lead from the first leg, Bayern won 3-2 at Signal Iduna Park, and a 2-2 draw in Leipzig saw them drop more points. Emre Can (cruciate ligament) and Chukwuemeka (muscle injury) are out, but the attacking options remain strong with Guirassy, Beier, and Nmecha as reliable options. Brandt continues to be an important factor in his final months at BVB.
Niko Kovač is likely to line up his team once again in the familiar 3-4-2-1 formation. Gregor Kobel will be in goal, with Michael Anton, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Ramy Bensebaini forming the back three. Florian Neuhaus is expected to control the transitions alongside his usual defensive midfield partner, while Julian Brandt and Jonas Beier will operate in the attacking midfield positions behind center forward Serhou Guirassy. Emerson Chukwuemeka remains sidelined with muscle issues, leaving a noticeable gap in the squad’s depth. He had recently gained significantly more influence in BVB’s play, which is why Brandt and Beier now bear more responsibility for creating chances, and Guirassy must serve as an even stronger anchor in the build-up play. This leaves Kovač with fewer options to rotate or vary the attacking play without jeopardizing the balance.
Augsburg Form & Record Check
Augsburg lost 1-2 at RB Leipzig last Saturday after initially taking the lead. A late own goal decided the match, although the team had performed respectably overall. This setback followed three consecutive Bundesliga wins (2-0 against Cologne, 3-2 against Wolfsburg, 1-0 against Heidenheim), which catapulted FCA to ninth place and demonstrated that Augsburg can achieve success in various ways. The injury situation is making itself painfully felt: Matsima and Gouweleeuw are out of the center-back lineup, Keitel (knee) and Ogundu (ankle) are also missing, and Banks’ availability is questionable. Baum is planning a back three of Schlotterbeck, Zesiger, and Chaves and has publicly stated that all three points are the goal, suggesting genuine conviction within the team.
Baum is likely to stick with his preferred 3-4-2-1 formation. The back three will consist of Nico Zesiger, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Pedro Chaves. The wing positions in midfield are not yet finalized, but there is a lack of key defensive options in central midfield. Florian Rieder and Ramazan Kömür are slated to play as the two attacking midfielders behind lone striker Ribeiro. Notable absences: Kellyn Acosta Matsima (torn tendon, no confirmed return date) and Jonas Gouweleeuw are unavailable, as are midfielders Keitel and Ogundu. Banks is questionable due to foot problems. Without Matsima and Gouweleeuw, Baum is reliant on a back three of Zesiger, Schlotterbeck, and Chaves, which noticeably reduces depth and experience in the center of defense. The absence of Keitel and Ogundu weakens the midfield options, increasing the reliance on Rieder and Kömür to supply Ribeiro. If Banks is also out, fewer planned alternatives could be used on the wingback positions, which is likely to affect the width of the play and the offensive output.
Dortmund – Augsburg Head-to-Head & Statistics
The last five Bundesliga clashes are evenly matched: two wins for Dortmund, two for Augsburg, and one draw. Most recently, BVB won 1-0 in October 2025; prior to that, Augsburg won both at Signal Iduna Park in March 2025 and at home in October 2024, while Dortmund swept the Swabians off the field 5-1 in May 2024. Interestingly, all of these matches saw very few goals in the second half; in none of the five games was a goal scored after the break. Still, both teams found the net in four of the five encounters, so goals are certainly to be expected, but the historical trend clearly indicates that most of the action takes place in the first 45 minutes.
