It’s Bavarian derby day in the Bundesliga once again as Bayern host near neighbours Augsburg on Saturday (kick-off at 15:30 CET, coverage on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app with our live text commentary and free web radio). The Munich side were beaten 1-0 in the reverse fixture but got revenge in the second round of the DFB Cup a month later with a 5-2 win. How are things looking going into this third meeting of the season? Find out in our preview.
Check out the best photos from final training on Friday:
State of play for Bayern
After Wednesday’s magical Champions League night with a 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain and progress to the quarter-finals, Bayern want to take that momentum with them and make it a perfect haul of three wins from three this week. After having to follow title rivals Borussia Dortmund in previous matchdays, FCB go first this weekend with the chance to lay down a marker (BVB are at Schalke on Saturday evening). It means there’s no room for a slip again like in the reverse fixture in Augsburg.
“We had problems with the way Augsburg played in the first game and in the cup,” coach Julian Nagelsmann said at his press conference on Friday. He has analysed these points with his team and created a plan for Saturday’s encounter: “I think we’re well prepared and will play very well at home.” However, the midweek efforts in the Champions League mean alterations to the team will be needed. “We’ll have to make a few changes because not everyone is at 100 percent,” the 35-year-old stated. “It’s never that simple straight after a Champions League game to get going again. the opening period will be key.”
Watch the whole of Nagelsmann’s pre-match press conference here:
Opponents Augsburg
There have been two sides to Augsburg in 2023. While they’ve been perfect at home with 12 points from four games, they have also lost all four away fixtures since the turn of the year. However, they make the short trip to the Bavarian capital confident, thanks also to their encounters with the record champions this season. “We played very well in both games and have won all of our recent home games. That gives us a good feeling,” said Augsburg coach Enrico Maaßen. That positive attitude could also be because the visitors currently have an eight-point cushion to the relegation zone. “We’ve picked up a decent number of points,” the 39-year-old said of their haul of 27 from 23 games.
Read up on some pre-match facts:
Player updates
Benjamin Pavard is available again following his suspension in the Champions League. However, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting won’t feature at the Allianz Arena this weekend. “He’s got problems with his back,” Nagelsmann revealed on Friday. A number of his players are also still “tired” after the PSG game, which is why the coach will only make a final decision about his line-up on the day of the game. Manuel Neuer and Lucas Hernandez are definitely among the absentees, although the latter has this week started running again for the first time since his cruciate ligament injury at the World Cup.
Augsburg come to Munich without Reece Oxford (ill), Fredrik Jensen (foot), Felix Uduokhai (muscular), plus long-term absentees Tobias Strobl (cruciate ligament) and Andre Hahn (knee).
What the coaches say
We’ll adapt our style of play to the hecticness – meant in a positive way – that Augsburg bring. They’re fresh, and the virtues they play with can make a game complicated. We have to take away that strength. We’ve created an idea for how we can do that. I think we’re well prepared and will play well at home.
Julian Nagelsmann
It’s definitely the game in a season where people least expect you to get points. Of course, we need an extraordinary day and Bayern to have an off one – then we’ve got a chance. The important thing is we need intensity, bravery, to be clinical in front of goal and willing to suffer.
Enrico Maaßen (Augsburg head coach)
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