Matchday in focus: Augsburg | OneFootball

A closer look at Eintracht’s next opponents, who have become considerably more consistent under head coach Manuel Baum.

Tactics 

Head coach Manuel Baum usually sends his team out in a 3-4-2-1 formation, as he did in the 2-1 win in Leverkusen last weekend. The hosts had 36 shots in that game but Augsburg goalkeeper Finn Dahmen was in inspired form, keeping out nine of the ten efforts on target he faced.

While he is set to play once more, some of the outfield positions are still open. “After our team meeting to go over the game plan, I had a smaller meeting with six players competing for the same positions,” said Baum. “Who gives the team the most energy? Who had a great week in training? Who is the best fit for the opponent? The result from the previous week isn’t always a deciding factor for the next line-up.”  

Absentees

The home side have a full squad available. 

Eintracht are without Jean-Mattéo Bahoya, Nnamdi Collins and Kaua Santos.

One to watch: Alexis Claude-Maurice

Alexis Claude-Maurice joined Augsburg in summer 2024, having featured in over 100 Ligue 1 games for OGC Nice and RC Lens. Combining experience, speed and a keen eye for goal, Claude-Maurice opened his Augsburg account in early October 2024 just minutes after coming off the bench against Borussia Mönchengladbach, making the score 2-0 in what was ultimately a 2-1 victory. He now has 15 goals and seven assists in 58 competitive outings for the club.  

The 27-year-old has nine goal contributions in the Bundesliga this term (five scored, four assists), making him the club’s most dangerous attacker alongside Fabian Rieder. “Alexis is such a good professional,” said Baum. “He’s unbelievably creative and, in terms of technique, I’ve rarely seen a player who’s so good one-on-one.”

Facts and figures

Baum took over the reins in Augsburg on 1 December 2025 and has brought considerable stability. The team collected 15 points in the first half of the season, included five from five games on Baum’s watch, but they have already amassed 21 points from 13 matches in the second half of the campaign. Furthermore, Augsburg conceded 33 goals across their first 17 league assignments but have shipped just 21 since Matchday 18. 

Augsburg have won six games in the second half of the season, two more than they managed in the first half of the campaign. They have now earned at least 21 points from 13 matches in the second half of a season for the third consecutive year. 

Baum’s charges are the only team to have beaten freshly crowned Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in the league in 2025/26. Goals from Arthur Chaves and Han-Noah Massengo gave them a 2-1 away victory on Matchday 19.