Three points against Augsburg with a "top performance"

Julian Nagelsmann on…

… the opposition:

The reverse fixture in the first half of the season doesn’t make a difference. We won 3-1 last time round but Augsburg are dangerous up front with their diagonal balls. We have to stop this or just defend well. We can’t allow them space on the wings. We will get our chances up front. We just need to use them.

… personnel:

Sebastian Rudy will, of course, miss out because of his red card. Tarik Elyounoussi is also out because of knee troubles and we need to wait until Wednesday to see if Tobias Strobl is available as he is still carrying a knock from the Dortmund game. We will also have to wait and see if Pirmin Schwegler will be able to play 90 minutes. He is slowly coming back and can help the team.

… the current situation:

We need to forget about Dortmund in order to put in a top performance and get three points, which is exactly what we want to do. I’m hoping that we can move up one position in the table on this matchday. Therefore, we certainly need a win.

I’m neither an advocate for nor opposed to squad rotation, but when you have midweek fixtures you have to have a look at how it affects the players a bit more closely. Whether or not you start is all down to how well each player does in training. The second variable is the opposition. It depends which players fit into what positions. I might decide that the same team will play, but I might also decide to rotate.

Previous encounters:

Good memories from the first half of the season? Hoffenheim got one of their two wins in the first half of the season against Augsburg. In the 3-1 victory, Jonathan Schmid and Kevin Volland scored the goals. TSG have now won four games out of nine against them in the Bundesliga. Three ended in a draw while Augsburg have run out victors on two occasions.

The form of the opposition:

Augsburg’s involvement in the Europa League has taken its toll on the team. Last season’s surprise package are now fighting to stay in the top division. They have picked up eleven points in their last 19 games.

Key duel:

TSG are, in general, better at scoring against solid defenses. Augsburg keeper Marvin Hitz has only picked the ball out of his net eight times in the last eleven games. Hoffenheim’s attack has rally got going against under Nagelsmann with five goals in three games. It will be important in the upcoming game to find ourselves FCA back line.

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