Breaking down FC Augsburg: Focusing on strengths and weaknesses ahead of the match against FC Bayern

FC Bayern welcome FC Augsburg to the Allianz Arena for a Bavarian derby on Saturday. The Bundesliga season hasn't gone optimally for the north Bavarians so far, with room for improvement in terms of their points haul. But one thing is certain: the commitment is there. No team in the league contests more tackles than FCA – an average of 206 per game, almost half of which they win. This shows the unwavering determination and fighting spirit with which Augsburg will take on the record champions on their home turf at 15:30 CET.

Historical encounters: Augsburg are awkward opponents

FCA have certainly caused a few upsets in Munich. Augsburg won their only Bundesliga match at the Allianz Arena to date in May 2015, beating Bayern 1-0 thanks to a goal from Raul Bobadilla. In April 2014, Augsburg also ended an impressive Bayern run: after 53 Bundesliga matches without defeat, the record champions lost 1-0 (goal by Sascha Mölders) in Augsburg. These successes show that, despite their current position in the table, Augsburg can be awkward opponents who will try to cause Bayern problems with their fighting spirit and tactical discipline.

Current form and league position: perilously close to relegation zone

Ahead of their away game in Munich, Augsburg remain perilously close to the relegation zone and are just three points above 16th place. The  club have gone five games without a win for the first time this season (three draws, two defeats). Only Werder Bremen are currently on a longer winless run in the league (seven games). With 16 points from 18 games, FCA are experiencing their worst Bundesliga campaign in seven years (in 2018/19, they had just 15 points). However, new coach Manuel Baum can’t be blamed entirely for this: the 46-year-old started his reign as Sandro Wagner's successor with a 2-0 win over Bayer 04 Leverkusen and has since picked up six points from six games, only two of which he’s lost.

However, Augsburg are still struggling away from home: for the first time, FCA have lost six of their first eight away games in a Bundesliga season (one win, one draw). Augsburg only banked fewer points after eight away games in the 2012/13 season (three points). What's more, they recently suffered three consecutive away defeats without scoring a goal for the first time since March/April 2021. Only Hamburger SV have picked up fewer points away from home (two) than FCA (four, level with Heidenheim).

One example of the current slump was the match against SC Freiburg: after taking a 2-0 lead, FCA seemed to be on course for the breakthrough they'd been hoping for. But Freiburg scored twice in quick succession in the 60th and 62nd minutes to level the score at 2-2. This was the first time since April 2023 that Augsburg had squandered a two-goal lead in the Bundesliga. In the 1-1 draw against Union Berlin, FCA also failed to hold on to a lead despite the Berliners being down to ten men – the equaliser came late and left the team with long faces in the relegation battle.

Coach Manuel Baum: Pragmatism and defensive stability

Manuel Baum has been head coach at FCA since December 2025. His approach is pragmatic: "Keep it simple" is his motto. Baum focuses on defensive stability, a compact team structure and clear, trainable processes in all phases of the game. In the first games under his leadership, Augsburg deployed a five-man back line to improve with controlling the wide areas and defending the penalty area – a means of minimising crosses and dangerous passes. After previously conceding 28 goals (the most in the league), they then ended 2025 by conceding just one goal in three games.

Baum stands for active, well-structured pressing, which is particularly effective in midfield with clear triggers (such as passes to the wings). The pressing is designed to win the ball back quickly, but with minimal initial risk. In this way, Augsburg attempt to disrupt the opponent's flow of play without opening themselves up too much.

Attack: Transitioning and direct football

In attack, Baum focuses on using clear lines of play after winning the ball and target players for direct follow-up moves. Transitioning is a key element in quickly moving from defending to creating dangerous situations. Alexis Claude-Maurice is a promising prospect in attack, having recently scored in two Bundesliga matches in a row for the first time – he had previously gone 24 games without scoring.

Team news

An key loss for Augsburg is Noahkai Banks, who is suspended after being shown a fifth yellow card. He has the best pass completion rate of the team in this Bundesliga campaign and has been in the starting XI since Matchday 6. His absence will noticeably weaken Augsburg's build-up play and ability to move the ball around.

Weaknesses and opportunities for FC Bayern

Despite their battling spirit, Augsburg do have problems in defence: FCA have one of the weakest defences in the league and have conceded 35 goals. The team are vulnerable to quick link-up play and deep pinpoint passes. This is where Bayern can capitalise on their individual class and versatile attacking game.

Moreover, the Augsburg attack, with 20 goals, still has room for improvement. Bayern should be able to overcome FCA's defence with controlled pressing and quick transitions, exploiting the space behind the back five.

Conclusion

FC Augsburg are opponents who play with great commitment, tactical discipline and a clear defensive strategy. Under Manuel Baum, the focus is on defence, with structured pressing designed to win the ball back quickly. For FC Bayern, this means staying patient, breaking down the FCA defence by being variable in attack while at the same time keeping an eye on the opposition's transitions. Just like Mönchengladbach did at the start of 2026: their thumping 4-0 win should have provided some examples of how to break down the FCA defence.

The key facts and stats on the Bavarian derby: