Augsburg in the DFB Cup: Can Wagner & Co. defeat Bochum?

Augsburg in the DFB Cup: Can Wagner & Co. defeat Bochum?

The DFB Cup brings excitement and hope, especially for FC Augsburg, who face VfL Bochum at the WWK Arena on Tuesday. The team of coach Sandro Wagner, who is optimistic about the game despite a heavy defeat against RB Leipzig (0:6), has set itself the goal of reaching the round of 16. Wagner, who has recently taken charge in Augsburg, can look back on a victory in the first round of the cup against Hallescher FC, but the last Bundesliga season was anything but pleasant.

Augsburg's form curve has been pointing steeply downwards in the last few games. With just two wins from the last eight Bundesliga games and a home game record that only includes one win at the WWK Arena, the task against Bochum will be anything but easy. The club also has problems defensively: the last clean sheet victory was 11 games ago, when Augsburg beat Hallescher FC 2-0 in the cup.

The challenges of the wolf

VfL Bochum has grown since the last DFB Cup against Augsburg, but was also unable to assert itself in the 2nd Bundesliga and is fighting against relegation. After a coaching change in which Uwe Rösler replaced Dieter Hecking, the team is faced with a mediocre performance this season so far. A win against Hertha Berlin and a draw against Holstein Kiel show progress, but overall the club is under pressure with just one win in the first eight games of the new season.

The injury concerns continue: Koji Miyoshi and Ibrahima Sissoko are currently unavailable for action, while Kevin Vogt is also out after his knee operation. A beacon of hope could be Francis Onyeka, who has scored brilliantly in the last five games in both the U18 and professional squads.

Lineup and forecasts

Both Augsburg and Bochum are struggling with absences, which could affect the lineups. Mert Komur is unavailable for Augsburg due to illness and Jeffrey Gouweleeuw is unavailable against Bochum with a torn cruciate ligament. Samuel Essende, who was in the starting line-up in the first cup game, and other players like Rieder and Giannoulis will probably run onto the field. The focus points of the expected lineups are as follows:

The bookmakers see Augsburg as slight favorites and are betting on a 2-1 win for the Bavarian Swabians. However, it remains to be seen whether they can make amends for Bochum's strong performances in the past. The game in the WWK Arena promises excitement and once again a thrilling duel between two traditional clubs in the DFB Cup. How the two teams will present themselves will certainly be followed with great interest by the fans.

You can also find out more about the current developments in the DFB Cup here: Buline News and Sportsmole.