The German Bundesliga is set to reach another captivating conclusion, with an intriguing round 31 match-up on offer this weekend, as Augsburg welcome Hamburger SV to the WWK Arena ( 15:30 CEST/14:30 GMT). These two bitter league rivals will lock horns on Sunday (April 30th).The last time these two teams met each other in the German Bundesliga, Hamburger SV clinched all three points at home in a 1:0 victory, courtesy of a right footed strike from Filip Kostic, and it will be fascinating to see how these two teams will fair in the return fixture, as we get set for another classic German Bundesliga encounter this Sunday.
AUGSBURG FC vs HAMBURGER SV
3-Way: 1: Augsburg FC+166; X: +240 Draw; Hamburger SV +197
Spread 0: Augsburg FC -115 ; TSG 1899 FC Hamburger SV +110
Total +2.5 : Over +112; Under -118
AUGSBURG FC
The Augsburg FC is currently in a perilous position in the league. The side is ranked 16th in the German Bundesliga, and currently occupies the relegation play-off position, at the bottom half of the table. The Augsburg FC has struggled to generate any decent form all season, and finds themselves fighting for their top flight survival, just three points clear of Ingolstadt 04, who lies at the 17th position. The Augsburg FC has now suffered four losses out of their last five competitive matches in the league.
On a positive note, the club has managed to claim all three points in their latest match played on home soil against FC Cologne (2:1) with Hinteregger and Verhaegh scoring for the hosts in the 5th and the 23rd minute of the first half. However, the side has won only four matches at home, out of their fifteen matches played this season. Worse yet, the Augsburg has lost more matches at home than they have won (L8), and the side has been unable to gain any momentum as the host’s all season. The team has only won eight times all season, and will certainly be desperate to claim victory this weekend. If Augsburg can pick up all three points on Sunday, they will successfully lift themselves out of the relegation zone, and leapfrog Hamburg in the league table by one point.
The club has struggled to find the net this season due to a lack of attacking ability in the final third. As a result, the Augsburg FC has found the net only 29 times, while allowing their opponents to score 49 goals. At home, the FC Augsburg scored 17 goals and allowed 24 goals to their opposition. The home team had to rely on the goals to come from midfield for the better part of the season. German midfielder Halil Altintop has netted four times, whilst Greek left back Kostas Stafylidis has also bagged four for this season.
The team’s Brazilian midfielder Caiuby Francisco Da Silva, will miss Sunday’s clash. The player sustained a knee injury back in September, and is yet to make a return to the first team, while fellow midfielder Ja Cheol Koo is sidelined with a knee injury, and it is doubtful that the Japanese star will return for Sunday’s fixture.
HAMBURGER SV
The Hamburger SV is currently ranked one place above Sunday’s league opposition, with a total of 33 points accumulated this season. The club has struggled to find any real form, in both home and away fixtures domestically, and is currently without a win away from home in their last four consecutive matches. On home soil, the team lost their recent encounter to bottom dwelling side SV Darmstadt 98 (1:2), in a disappointing affair that left the hosts dangling dangerously over the jaws of the relegation zone once more.
The Hamburger SV has lost their last two fixtures in the German Bundesliga, and the side will need to muster a win this Sunday, if they are to stay clear of the drop zone. If the side can collect all three points against fellow strugglers Augsburg, the side could climb as high as the 12th position, and go joint level on points with the Bayer Leverkusen 04 . This fact alone, will provide the Hamburger SV with plenty of motivation, as they prepare to go head to head against Augsburg FC this Sunday.
The Hamburger SV has defeated Augsburg in their last two encounters, but the Augsburg has a newly found optimism, having cultivated two impressive victories out of their their last three home matches played, the most recent of which came in a dramatic (2:1) victory against a high flying TSG Hoffenheim side. The HSV has scored a total of 30 goals, allowing 55. Away from home, the HSV has only 11 goals, while giving up 31 goals to their opposition in the German Bundesliga.
The Austrian, attacking midfielder Michael Gregoritsch, is the clubs joint top scorer with five goals in all competitions this season. The twenty three year old has claimed the Man of the Match once this campaign, and has averaged just under 1.9 shots per game. The sides speed demon, and expeditious winger Nikolai Muller also has five goals to his name.
The Hamburger SV will be without a number of players for this Sunday’s hotly anticipated showdown, between the two rock bottom teams. A return to the side could be in store for Swedish midfielder Nabil Bahoui, the 26 year old has been recovering from a shoulder injury sustained back in March, but has officially returned to training this week. Goalkeeper Christian Methainia will be absent for Sunday’s league Bundesliga match with a thigh injury, and is not expected to return to the side, until early May. The Hamburger SV midfielder Filip Kostic is serving a one match suspension, and will miss out on this weekend’s contest.
AUGSBURG FC vs. HAMBURGER SV – MATCH PREDICTION
The Augsburg FC against Hamburger SV promises to be an enthralling, blood-thirsty scrap for survival at the bottom end of the table, with each of these sides desperately needing to salvage three points, this fierce clash looks set to be a blockbuster spectacle. The Hamburger SV will take encouragement from the fact that the side has claimed all three points against Augsburg from their last two meetings in the German Bundesliga .
On the other hand, the Augsburg has won their last two home games domestically, which is sure to give them optimism going into Sunday’s battle. This will be an intense skirmish, that carries significant importance for both sides, which is why I believe that a draw is the most realistic option to put the money on. In addition, I will go with the under 2.5 goals, taking in consideration the importance of the game and the fact that both teams would be happy to win at least one point!!!
MY PICK: Draw X (+240)
Total: Under 2.5 goals (-118)
