FC Augsburg have received a timely boost ahead of their Bundesliga clash against Bayern Munich this Saturday, with attacking midfielder Anton Kade returning to the squad. Kade had been sidelined recently due to a muscle injury, but coach Manuel Baum has confirmed his availability for the highly anticipated fixture.
Team News Ahead of Bayern Encounter
However, Augsburg will still be without several key players for the encounter. Steve Mounié and Tim Breithaupt are both unavailable. Additionally, Noahkai Banks will miss the match after suffering a ligament injury while on international duty with Germany’s U-21 squad.
Coach Baum’s Challenge
Addressing the media, coach Manuel Baum underscored the significant challenge posed by the reigning champions. He emphasised the importance of his team’s self-focus and intensity against such a formidable opponent. Baum stated that “the crucial thing is that we concentrate on ourselves,” acknowledging Bayern’s comprehensive solutions in terms of both personnel and tactics.
He further highlighted the need for relentless effort, stressing that “intensity will be more important than content” and urging every player to “sprint like a madman every second” to effectively press the ball. The 47-year-old coach also called for unwavering belief from the entire team and the fans, remarking that “without this belief, it will never happen,” despite the perceived lower probability of success against their Bavarian neighbours.
This match presents a stern test for Augsburg, who will need to harness their collective spirit and tactical discipline to contend with Bayern Munich, especially given the absences in their squad.