FC Augsburg aims to "keep Leipzig's strengths in check"

After six games without a win, FC Augsburg is looking to turn things around against RB Leipzig. “I think the team still has a certain lightness, a joy in the game, regardless of the results. That’s why we believe we can win the match in Leipzig,” said Manuel Baum ahead of this Saturday’s away game (3:30 p.m./Sky) at RB Leipzig, where he served as sporting director of the youth academy for two years starting in the summer of 2023 before returning to FCA as head of development and soccer innovation. 

However, Augsburg has never won in Leipzig, and its only point there came a long time ago: in March 2019, under Baum, there was a scoreless draw against the Saxons, who have won 12 of their 20 Bundesliga matches. Nevertheless, according to Baum, the team must not get overconfident, as was the case most recently in the 1-2 loss to Freiburg, where they lost despite leading 1-0. It was a bitter pill to swallow: it was their first home loss in seven months. At least the Fuggerstadt team were still sensational league leaders after the second matchday. 

RB expert Baum: “You have to defend that first”

For Leipzig expert Baum, analyzing the opponent was straightforward. “You saw yesterday what kind of quality they have when they play against a top team like Man City. What’s extremely striking, of course, is their one-on-one quality and their transition play—especially when you play the ball into the center and they’re able to transition quickly using their speed,” explained the FCA head coach. What he finds intriguing is RB’s basic formation, “when they get into our defensive third. They get an incredible number of players into the box—you have to defend against that first. Those are their major strengths that we’ve identified; we have to keep them in check somehow.”