Bavarian derby: Kompany urges caution against an FCA side with strong home form

At last, following the extended international break, the Bundesliga is back! FC Bayern visit FC Augsburg for a Matchday 5 clash on Saturday 10 October (live coverage with our text commentary and free web radio on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app from 15.30 CEST). The Munich side are looking to build on their strong away form in this Bavarian derby. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our preview.

The best photos from Friday’s final training session:

Latest news from FC Bayern

The record champions head to Augsburg in second place in the table with ten points. After four matchdays, they've recorded three wins and one draw. Before the international break, Vincent Kompany’s side laid down a big marker with a 7–0 thrashing of Union Berlin.

“We simply want to win every game; that’s the priority,” Kompany had stressed in the pre-match press conference. The Munich side can draw on an impressive Bundesliga record: FC Bayern have lost just one of their last 47 Bundesliga encounters – a 2–1 home defeat to their upcoming opponents, Augsburg, in January this year.

FCB are unbeaten away from home in 28 Bundesliga games. Bayern won 21 of those matches, with seven ending in draws. Only once have the record champions gone longer without defeat on the road in the league: between 2012 and 2014, they went 33 consecutive away games without losing.

The head-to-head record in Augsburg also favours the Munich side. FC Bayern have won 11 of their 15 Bundesliga encounters on FCA's turf. Hopefully their most recent defeat against the Fuggerstädter will serve as further motivation.

Team news

Jamal Musiala is sidelined with a torn muscle fibre. Kompany explained in the press conference: “I can relate to his story of setbacks; I experienced that in my own career too. Coming back from that is a great strength. I hope he can happily go on playing over the next few years. But when you make a strong comeback, it’s something that stays with you for life. The team is always delighted when he scores goals. He’ll keep doing that, no doubt about it.”

Apart from Musiala’s injury, the internationals all returned to Munich in good shape. Sporting director Christoph Freund highlighted the depth of the squad: It was a very long international break. We’re delighted to be getting going again; we’ve got some big matches coming up, and we’re looking forward to them. We’ve got a brilliant squad that’s ready for it.”

The opposition: FC Augsburg

After four matchdays, FC Augsburg are sitting fourth with seven points so have also made a strong start to the season. “It’s still a derby, and it’s an away fixture. What sets FCA apart is that they’re very compact and can be very dangerous on the ball. They've got a lot of individual quality - more than people sometimes realise. They’ve made a flying start to the season.” said Kompany, analysing FCB's Bavarian neighbours.

Augsburg have already demonstrated their attacking prowess this season and have racked up 11 goals. At the same time, FCA are extremely difficult to beat at home: Manuel Baum’s side have lost just one of their last 14 Bundesliga home games. Augsburg won seven of those matches and drew six.

It means FCA are heading into the clash brimming with confidence. “From the kick-off, everyone in the stadium and in the team must believe that we can win. Against Bayern, the odds may be against us – but without that belief, it will never happen,” said Baum ahead of the local derby.

As well as Steve Mounié and Tim Breithaupt, Noahkai Banks is also out for FCA due to a lateral ligament injury in his knee. Anton Kade, however, who was recently sidelined with a muscle injury, is likely to make the squad.

You can win a jersey in the FC Bayern Matchday Quiz!