Preview: Augsburg vs. Eintracht Frankfurt - prediction, team news, lineups

Augsburg host Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday afternoon in a mid-table Bundesliga clash.

Only one place and two points separate the two sides coming into this one, but Frankfurt's nine-game winless run leaves the hosts as slight favourites.

Match preview

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Augsburg ended their own lengthy streak without picking up three points when they defeated Arminia Bielefeld 1-0 last time out.

Heiko Herrlich's men started the new campaign in good form, winning their opening two matches of the season, but they have only managed to add another two victories over their next 10 outings, leaving them in ninth position.

While Augsburg's defensive record has won plaudits, with their 17 goals conceded bettering Bayern Munich's total, they have struggled to be as dominant in the final third.

Just 15 goals in their first 12 league games in 2020-21 means only four sides have found the back of the net on fewer occasions - a statistic that will have to change if Herrlich's side have ambitions of staying in the top half of the table.

Augsburg have only lost once at the WWK Arena so far this season and will be confident of extending that impressive record over the weekend.

Frankfurt last won a game of football on October 3; a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of the current champions Bayern Munich, along with seven draws have occurred since then.

Converting those singular points into three has proved impossible for Adi Hutter's men over the last few months, but it is not down to a lack of attacking talent.

That humbling at the Allianz Arena back in October was the last time Die Adler failed to score in a game, and that is largely thanks to Andre Silva.

The Portuguese forward has bagged nine goals throughout the current campaign, with Erling Braut Haaland and Robert Lewandowski the only players to have scored more in the Bundesliga.

If Hutter's men are to end their poor run on Saturday, then Silva will surely have a big role to play.

Augsburg Bundesliga form: LDDLDW

Eintracht Frankfurt Bundesliga form: DDDDLD

Team News

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Augsburg remain without a handful of first-team players for their upcoming encounter, including 30-year-old winger Andre Harn, who is self-isolating after testing positive for coronavirus.

Left-back Mads Pedersen (muscle injury), winger Noah Sarenren Bazee (ruptured ligaments) and midfielder Fredrik Jensen (ankle) are sidelined alongside long-term absentee Jan Moravek.

Herrlich is unlikely to change much after their victory over Arminia earlier in the week, meaning Marco Richter and Michael Gregoritsch will lead the line once again.

Experienced centre-back David Abraham is suspended for Frankfurt after picking up a red card in the 3-3 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach in midweek.

Dutch defender Jetro Willems and teenager Felix Irorere have yet to regain match fitness and will be unavailable, while striker Ragnar Ache is out with a hamstring problem.

Augsburg possible starting lineup: Gikiewicz; Ukuokhai, Gouweleeuw, Oxford; Caligiuri, Khedira, Gruezo, Framberger; Strobl; Richter, Gregoritsch

Eintracht Frankfurt possible starting lineup: Trapp; Abraham, Hinteregger, N'Dicka; Durm, Rode, Ilsanker, Sow, Kostic; Dost, Silva

We say: Augsburg 2-2 Eintracht Frankfurt

Despite Augsburg's solid record at the back they should find it too hard to keep out an Andre Silva-powered Frankfurt side for 90 minutes. Nevertheless, with Hutter's charges failing to keep clean sheets and bring home the three points since October, this one is likely to end in a score draw.

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