FC Augsburg: Bundesliga 2026/27 Tactical Preview

This tactical preview for the 2026/27 Bundesliga season examines FC Augsburg, a club held in high regard by the author. Despite past criticisms regarding a perceived "Römer Rebranding" and a desire for a return to the club's more traditional roots, Augsburg has seemingly listened. Manager Manuel Baum has been tasked with a pragmatic approach, aiming to secure a stable, perhaps even anonymous, presence in the top flight. While marketing efforts continue with ambitious, albeit questionable, themes, the team's on-field objective is clear: extend their Bundesliga stay to a remarkable 17 consecutive seasons. Mediocrity, in the context of the "Puppenkiste" culture, is not a negative term; it signifies continued top-flight status for the benefit of the club's youth initiatives.

FC Augsburg

Manuel Baum has successfully stabilized the team, implementing a 3-4-2-1 formation that appears well-suited to the current squad. The club has a long-term vision for more attacking football, but the immediate priority is solidifying their position and addressing lingering issues from the previous season. Summer transfer activity has focused on sensible, safe acquisitions to maintain continuity.

Major Personnel Shifts at Augsburg

Club administrators Benni Weber, Marc Lettau, and Julian Baumgartlinger have adopted a patient approach, prioritizing stability. Manuel Baum has committed to remaining head coach, and the loan strikers who provided crucial support have been permanently signed. Rodrigo Ribeiro was acquired for €5 million, while Michael Gregoritsch joined for a more modest €700,000, offering distinct attacking profiles. Defensively, Hennes Behrens was brought in from Hoffenheim for €3.5 million to replace Dimitrios Giannoulis, and Calvin Brackelmann joined on a free transfer to fill the void left by Cédric Zesiger. Sima Suso was added from relegated Düsseldorf for €1.6 million as an option in central midfield, though Han-Noah Massengo and Fabian Rieder appear to be the established midfield pairing. Giannoulis and Zesiger were sold for a combined €7.75 million, demonstrating astute negotiation and a successful roster trim. The club also managed to move on several other players, including Henri Koudossou, David Colina, Maximilian Bauer, Elvis Rexhbecaj, and Oliver Sorg, alongside clearing returning loanees. Kyliane Dong, Elias Saad, and Aiman Dardari were sent out on loan for development, while Yusuf Kabadayi also embarked on another loan spell. The departure of Zesiger was a notable, albeit not entirely surprising, move. Augsburg has generally resisted the urge to cash in on every asset, with Chrislain Matsima remaining despite a collapsed transfer and Mert Kömür attracting interest from Hull City but remaining at the club. The potential departures of Mert Kömür or Alexis Claude-Maurice could necessitate further attacking reinforcements. For now, the club's strategy remains focused on preserving the core, making prudent signings, and streamlining the squad.

Pre-Season Notes from Augsburg

During pre-season, Manuel Baum experimented with his tactics more than anticipated. While the 3-4-2-1 formation was largely maintained, midfield pairings were varied, and players like Robin Fellhauer, Anton Kade, Fabian Rieder, and Marius Wolf were deployed in multiple positions. Wolf, in particular, featured as a second-axis attacking winger. The author credits these experiments to a desire to test squad versatility.

Pre-season results were mixed. An early friendly against the "Swabian Selection" ended in a 1-1 draw, with Mert Kömür scoring a late equalizer. A more significant friendly against Bournemouth resulted in a heavy 5-2 defeat over 120 minutes, with the team's performance deteriorating significantly after widespread substitutions. A comfortable 15-0 victory against an amateur side in Schwaz, featuring a hat-trick from Uchenna Ogundu and braces from Marius Wolf and Anton Kade, offered little insight. The match against US Sassuolo saw Augsburg secure a 3-2 victory despite an early deficit, with goals from Robin Fellhauer, Anton Kade, and Hennes Behrens. However, the final friendly against Leeds United ended in a 4-0 defeat, exposing tactical deficiencies and a lack of attacking threat. This performance raised concerns ahead of an away Pokal fixture against Energie Cottbus.

Camp Winners at Augsburg

Uchenna Ogundu, CF

Despite a lack of standout performances from the primary strikers, Gregoritsch and Ribeiro, Ogundu has made a case for inclusion in the attacking rotation. His hat-trick in the lopsided victory against Schwaz, while not definitive, has earned him a closer look. While Gregoritsch remains the preferred option and Ribeiro the developmental project, Ogundu has successfully used pre-season to earn himself another opportunity.

Marius Wolf, RW

Wolf has shown promise in an advanced attacking role, particularly as a second-axis winger. His brace against Schwaz and an assist against Sassuolo suggest he can still contribute offensively when deployed with less defensive responsibility. While his overall impact against Leeds was limited, his versatility could provide valuable attacking cameos.

Yannik Keitel, CM

Seizing opportunities due to absences, Keitel logged significant minutes in midfield and defense. He could serve as a valuable "plug-man" for the back-three, offering an upgrade in depth. His presence in midfield could also allow Rieder to operate in a more advanced attacking role.

Hennes Behrens, LB

The 21-year-old left-back has impressed with his attacking verve and has shown he can handle Bundesliga football. Behrens has been lively throughout pre-season, scoring the winning goal against Sassuolo, and appears well-suited to replace Dimitrios Giannoulis.

Tim Schnitzer, CM

A promising young talent, Schnitzer has featured prominently in pre-season and scored in the defeat to Bournemouth. The club's academy product has earned his place and should have opportunities to collect meaningful senior minutes.

Noahkai Banks, CB

The 19-year-old defender has started most pre-season fixtures and added a goal against Schwaz. With skipper Jeffrey Gouweleeuw likely to be managed carefully, Banks's increased playing time suggests he is a viable option in the back three.

Camp Losers at Augsburg

Alexis Claude-Maurice, ATTM

Despite respectable production last season, Claude-Maurice has been hampered by injuries and transfer rumors. With a surplus of strikers and entering the final year of his contract, his role in the team appears uncertain.

Sima Suso, CM

The new signing has had limited opportunities to impress due to injury and the established midfield pairing of Massengo and Rieder. He enters the season as a developmental depth piece, with his first significant audition postponed.

Tim Breithaupt, DM

Breithaupt's time at Augsburg has been disappointing since his arrival. After loan spells in the 2. Bundesliga, his pre-season audition at right wing-back was unconvincing, and his future at the club appears bleak.

Calvin Brackelmann, CB

The highly-touted signing has struggled to break into the first team. With established options at center-back and the potential for further defensive transfers, his immediate impact is unlikely.

Finn Dahmen, GK

Despite his status as a potential German national team contender, Dahmen has had a shaky pre-season. Errors against Sassuolo and a generally unconvincing camp have raised some concerns, although he remains the undisputed number one.

Tactical Scout: Augsburg

Manuel Baum's tactical experimentation in pre-season yielded mixed results against more formidable opponents. The author advocates for deploying the strongest possible XI in the upcoming Pokal fixture against Energie Cottbus to avoid an early exit. The projected lineup features a 3-4-2-1 formation, with the expectation of a hard-fought victory. The ultimate goal for Augsburg remains maintaining their Bundesliga status through a consistent and steady approach. While potential exists for a more attacking style with tactical adjustments and player development, the club's immediate focus is on stability and avoiding unnecessary risks.

GGFN | Peter Weis