Within the first of what shall be many check-ins with Bundesliga golf equipment on Get German Soccer Information this season, it’s time to look in on FC Augsburg. German soccer watchers with a view to see if certainly one of our potential future Bundestrainers can hack it within the German high flight. Given , we merely should know! How fares Wagner’s first foray into the highest flight?
Wagner’s Augsburg started the 2025/26 Bundesliga marketing campaign with a shock 1-3 away win over FC Freiburg. Two losses towards FC Bayern München and FC St. Pauli adopted. We’ll cowl these matches together with all of the fascinating tales surrounding this membership under. It nonetheless seems to be a profitable season for the Bavarian Swabian membership within the strategy of re-branding itself based mostly on town’s Roman heritage.
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By the way, the membership’s “re-branding” is an fascinating story unto itself. These considering buying the snazzy new “Römertricot” ought to undoubtedly take a look at the membership’s reward store. The style through which Augsburg have redecorated their dressing room tunnel with Roman bricks additionally leaves the membership in a weirdly beneficiant temper. Augsburg is definitely sending out “roman bricks” to those that request that particular piece of membership swag.
That’s truly not a joke!
Give it a attempt!
However the creator digresses.
Onwards to the soccer.
Fascinating Developments, FC AugsburgThe axial rise of Mert Kömür
The gifted younger German attacking midfielder has That being mentioned, completely nobody might have predicted that Wagner would flip to the 20-year-old as his lead striker. Kömür – within the absence of the suspended Samuel Essende and the injured Philipp Tietz – has taken benefit of his flip main the road. Wagner tapped Kömür to serve about Steve Mounié even if the latter (the creator believes he’s now mentioned a thousand occasions)
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To start with, it appeared apparent sufficient that Wagner devised a false-nine-role for Kömür. It didn’t take lengthy for to summon up the braveness to play as a real center-forward. The lad additionally shocked with an sudden fast bounce-back to start out towards St. Pauli this weekend. The inferred lesson right here issues the truth that Wagner’s affect not be all that related right here. Kömür seems personally fairly pushed and his ambition is carrying him fairly far.
The revival of Kristijan Jakic
When the Eintracht Frankfurt flop moved to Augsburg on mortgage throughout the January 2024 switch window (Augsburg’s lone incoming switch that month aside from whole flop Pep Biel) the information was handled as one thing of a joke in German footballing circles. Admittedly, the creator chuckled a bit as nicely. Jakic’s means to assist this group however by no means actually stood in query. The Croatian’s versatility all the time rendered him a helpful participant. Jakic performed all alongside the line of defense and in midfield for Oliver Glasner’s Europa League profitable 2021/22 squad.
The Croat started making an affect for Jess Thorup’s FCA nearly instantly, incomes a daily beginning function earlier than January was out and registering his first help in simply his third begin. Jakic memorably bagged a brace towards Niko Kovac’s Wolfsburg in March 2024. Although he didn’t get his title on the scoresheet a lot final season, Jakic featured in 31 of 34 league fixtures beneath Thorup. Wagner has moved the 28-year-old Croat worldwide up from sweeper to a correct place within the midfield double six and
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Keep tuned, right here!
A flurry of switch deadline exercise
The newly re-jiggered FCA entrance workplace moved into their new administrative domiciles in early July and evidently took eight weeks or so to plan out their switch deadline day actions. In hindsight, it shouldn’t function a shock to study that Benni Weber, Marc Lettau, Manuel Baum and Julian Baumgartliner had some plans in retailer for the tip of the window. These 4 are all well-known and skilled German footballing personnel officers. Kudos to the quartet for wrapping up tons of strong transactions because the offseason would right down to an in depth. The Fabian Rieder deal
The naturally stole the headlines, however the and can produce long-term dividends. the executive group additionally put in some strong work Total, it’s been a productive summer season from each the brand new group and the executives tasked with bridging the hole between the freshly-installed quartet and the Thorup/Marinko Jurendic managerial regimes. So many nice signings this summer season. , , and are already stirring issues up.
Techniques Examine, FC Augsburg
A lot has transpired within the Fuggerstadt We’ve a lot to atone for as Augsburg occurred to be one of many groups assessed earlier than their opening spherical Pokal fixture. Wagner’s crew shortly erased reminiscences of their tepid pre-season with a 2-0 victory over Hallerscher FC of their first cup tie. Kömür lined up within the place one would count on from him in a double-striker-set. Mounié, and later Essende, each scored on this:
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Lineup—FC Augsburg (DFB Pokal)
Wagner clearly needed to alter for Essende’s absence within the league. The FCA coach did so by intentionally benching Mounié, transferring Kömür all the way in which up entrance and, handing Fellhauer a forward-oriented attacking project. Augsburg’s group sheet launched simply previous to the opening spherical Bundesliga fixture towards Freiburg impressed little or no confidence. One failed to know how the link-up play would work on this association.
Lineup—FC Augsburg (Match One)
This considerably extra defensive posture struggled to realize traction towards the Breisgauer. In one of many weirdest outcomes of opening day, nonetheless, Augsburg instantly woke as much as put three previous internet hosting Freiburg earlier than the opening half concluded. Up till the half-hour-mark of the sport, Julian Schuster’s SCF dominated. Freiburg would have even taken a 1-0 lead into the tunnel have been it not for a disallowed objective.
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A cascading collection of errors enabled Dimitrios Giannoulis, Chrislain Matsima, and Marius Wolf to as an alternative ship Augsburg into the locker room with a 0-3 away lead. Giannoulis and Wolf provided some sparkle on their unassisted objectives. Kömür arrange Matsima. Within the case of all three tallies, Freiburg skilled focus lapses and “blackout moments”.
Freiburg recovered to play a way more secure second-half, ultimately pulling a objective again from the penalty spot. The ultimate 1-3 outcome truly ended up being the overall inverse of the full-time xG (Freiburg 3.04, Augsburg 1.22). Wagner made no adjustments to the XI forward of the Spherical Two showdown towards FC Bayern München on the WWK-Enviornment. Issues bought slightly weirder late on.
The underdog hosts fought moderately nicely towards the would possibly German document champs, although they once more scored in an odd-fashion throughout certainly one of their weaker spells. Wagner’s second league match noticed itself outlined predominantly by a collection of FCA accidents. The needed to fill in as each the best and left wingback when each Wolf and Giannoulis departed proceedings.
Lineup—FC Augsburg (sixty fifth minute)
Jakic and Fellhauer continued to excel regardless of what kind of positioning or stagger Wagner had them working. One thing of a disgrace that On a few events so far this 12 months, Wagner has One sees this within the group. Gamers are given free roles that they’re free to re-define. Furthermore, in the event that they don’t like them, it seems they don’t need to do them.
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In any occasion, it’s time to quick ahead to the newest match towards St. Pauli. A pleasant over the worldwide break enabled Arne Maier, Yussuf Kabadayi, Cedric Zesiger, Mads Pedersen, and Nediljko Labrovic to get run-outs. Not a lot to report on from a 1-2 loss to Bavarian neighbors SpVgg Greuther Fürth. Surprisingly, Kömür and Wolf fought again from accidents in time to function within the XI towards St. Pauli.
Lineup—FC Augsburg (Match Three)
Sadly for the Bavarian Swabians, the truth that Keven Schlotterbeck and Dimitrios Giannoulis couldn’t make it again in time proved decisive. Schlotterbeck alternative Cedric Zesiger – regardless of enjoying a match – dedicated the foul that enabled St. Pauli to attract degree from the penalty spot within the forty fifth. Zesiger would later inadvertently deflect in St. Pauli’s second objective.
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Elvis Rexhbecaj proved ineffective as a makeshift left wingback and was ultimately moved central after the Jakic harm. Rexhbecaj had issue adjusting to the tactical change and later bought booked. Fellhauer got here off the bench to alleviate Rexhbecaj on the left, however understandably performed tentatively after his concussion scare. Tietz, Gharbi, Alexis Claude Maurice, and managed little off the bench.
Upcoming fixtures and evaluation, Augsburg
Saturday, September twentieth
FSV Mainz 05 (H) 15:30
Saturday, September twenty seventh
FC Heidenheim (A) 15:30
Saturday, October 4th
VfL Wolfsburg (H) 15:30
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Issues ought to start trending upwards for Wager and firm with three very winnable fixtures earlier than the following worldwide break. Insofar because the assault is worried, the FCA coach will likely be most grateful to lastly get Samuel Essende again from suspension in time to face die Nullfünfter subsequent Saturday. Kömür can slide again to pair with Elias Saad on the second axis, and even work deeper as a staggered six behind Saad and Rieder.
A few early pace bumps towards robust groups shouldn’t knock Wagner astray an excessive amount of. One sees this group choosing up loads of factors and furnishing us with some fascinating tales. Fabian Rieder has The extraordinarily fashionable German coach has us all engaged and paying full consideration to his FCA. It appears extremely probably that we’ll be discussing Augsburg lots this season.
And do test in on these bricks too!
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