When FC Bayern take on FC Augsburg in the Bundesliga on Friday evening, it's much more than a battle between the league leaders and the team in 13th place. "It's a derby," knows Bayern coach Vincent Kompany. "Last season they were challenging for Europe. They've undergone a very good development. Augsburg has always been a tough game for Bayern in recent years." But can you even call it a derby when there are clubs such as 1860 München and SpVgg Unterhaching who are considerably closer geographically? "For me it's a derby," says Bayern legend Raimond Aumann, who was born in Augsburg and also played for FCA during his youth years. In a conversation with the 1990 World Cup winner, it also becomes clear that Friday night's match is in fact more than "just" a derby between Bavarian neighbours – it's a meeting of two (football) worlds.
Aumann moved from Augsburg to Munich
Raimond Aumann will be a special guest at the FC Bayern Museum on Friday.
The people of Munich, who live in Upper Bavaria, are said to be proud and have a sense of success, while the Bavarian Swabians supposedly bring pragmatism and their tireless passion to the table to annoy their bigger neighbour. "I now feel more like a Munich native than an Augsburg native," reveals Aumann, 61. "Nevertheless, FC Augsburg also has a place in my heart. For me as an FCA youth player, FC Bayern were the ultimate back then. I was contacted by Uli Hoeneß when I was 16 as a youth player at Augsburg – you can imagine what an impact that had. He travelled to Augsburg in person and arranged with my teacher how I could get to Munich in time for training." Aumann, who went on to be a top international goalkeeper and captain of Bayern, is a trained retail salesman.
While the record champions manifested their status as the German gods through decades of success, Augsburg, based less than 100 kilometres away, also developed into a permanent fixture in the German top flight. "FCA can be extremely proud to now be number two in Bavaria," says Aumann. "They've established themselves in the Bundesliga, and they've done it brilliantly. Augsburg have no media pressure, perhaps they also like their role in the shadow of big FC Bayern nearby." The Fuggerstädter want to give Munich, who have been extremely dominant in the Bundesliga so far this season, a run for their money on Friday, even if the role of favourites is clear.
Mia san mia vs. inventive mentality
I knew the derbies against 1860 München and 1. FC Nürnberg as a player. Augsburg have now established themselves as number two in Bavaria for over a decade. We have great respect for the work that's being done there.
Max Eberl, FC Bayern board member for sport
Munich's Bavarians, the Upper Bavarians, usually act as if victory is their birthright, so they say. And why not? That is their typical self-image. With a bulging trophy cabinet, world-class players and the 'Mia san mia' DNA, Bayern is the perfect example of Upper Bavarian self-confidence. In contrast, the Swabians, FCA, are down-to-earth, dogged and always ready to spring a surprise. Be it on the pitch, in the transfer market or in the table. Augsburg may not score on global merits, but they bring with them what has supposedly always characterised the Swabians: the inventive mentality. They rely on passion, fighting spirit and the ability to get the maximum out of limited resources.
Aumann also recognises the different mentalities: "Augsburg people are more reserved than Munich people. Nevertheless, they can get very enthusiastic. I think, for example, of the return of Helmut Haller to Augsburg from Juventus in 1973. There was a massive hype for that." They are also adaptable, as demonstrated by the successful careers of Augsburg-born footballers Haller, Bernd Schuster and Armin Veh.
The FC Bayern team photo before the 1982/83 season - the first of Raimond Aumann as a professional. Can you find him? | © imago
Eberl praises FCA
"I knew the derbies against 1860 München and 1. FC Nürnberg as a player," reflected board member for sport Max Eberl in the pre-match press conference on Thursday. "Augsburg have now established themselves as number two in Bavaria for over a decade. We have great respect for the work that's being done there." So, perhaps not a local derby but a derby. And one between two teams with two different Bavarian mentalities – despite the geographical proximity. The Swabians will be sharpening their elbows on Friday to prove to the Munich Upper Bavarians that you can still achieve glory with less glamour. For Bayern, who are still unbeaten in the Bundesliga, it's about confidently thwarting those plans once again.
Get the lowdown on Bayern vs. Augsburg in the preview:
Topics of this article