Prediction: Augsburg vs Mainz

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 2/3

Bookmaker: Dachbet

Looking to make it back-to-back Bundesliga victories on Friday night, Augsburg will welcome Mainz to Bavaria.

Augsburg

Starting with the hosts, while Augsburg might have been disappointed earlier in the month as they entered September’s international break with a woeful 4-0 drumming at the hands of Heidenheim, Jess Thorup’s men came roaring back last weekend. Putting in a thumping performance in Bavaria as the stormed their way to a routine 3-1 win against St. Pauli, the Whites will be looking to use that performance as a platform to build on. Opening up the new campaign with an action-packed 2-2 stalemate at home against Werder Bremen, Friday’s hosts are dreaming of the chance to mount a genuine top-half charge this time around. However, despite smelling a potential opportunity this weekend, Augsburg know the importance of finding some crucial defensive steel. In fact, continuing on from last season, Thorup’s side have recorded just a sole clean sheet from any of their previous 12 Bundesliga appearances.

Team News

All yet to make a single Bundesliga appearance since opening up the new campaign, Augsburg will once again be without the trio of Raphael Framberger, Robert Gummy and former West Ham starlet Reece Oxford here. Both coming off the bench and finding the net against St. Pauli last weekend, the duo of Yusuf Kabadayi and Phillip Tietz will be hoping for a full recall.

Arriving from Croatian outfit Rijeka over the summer, Nediljko Labrovic will start between the sticks on Friday night. Likewise, fellow summer recruit and former Brentford ace Frank Onyeka will partner Kristijan Jakic at the heart of Thorup’s midfield here.

Mainz

As for the visitors, while Mainz might have signed off last season with a real flurry as they stormed their way to Bundesliga safety, the Carnival Club have drastically struggled to find any kind of fluidity this time around. Marking their return from September’s international break with a 2-1 defeat at home against Werder Bremen last weekend, Bo Henriksen’s side have failed to claim a single victory from any of their first three Bundesliga appearances. Despite heading into September’s fortnight interval with an action-packed 3-3 stalemate away at Stuttgart, Friday’s guests have also shown their own respective defensive issues. Continuing on from last season, Mainz have recorded just a single clean sheet from any of their previous nine Bundesliga appearances – a run that stems back to April 6th.

Team News

While Norwegian international Andreas Hanche-Olsen might have missed out Werder Bremen last weekend, Mainz are hopeful that the former Gent midfielder can return to Henriksen’s squad on Friday night. Looking to claim a first Bundesliga victory of the season here, Mainz have reported a clean bill of health and have not fresh issues to worry about.

Arriving from Japanese outfit Kashima over the summer, 23-year-old Kaishu Sano will partner former Bayer Leverkusen star Nadiem Amiri in the middle of the park. Opening his Bundesliga account against Stuttgart prior to September’s international break, Jonathan Burkardt will lead Mainz’s charge.

Key Factors to Consider

• Despite suffering a 2-1 loss when they travelled to Bavaria last season, Mainz have collected nine points from their previous four appearances against Augsburg.
• Augsburg have recorded just a single clean sheet from any of their previous 12 Bundesliga appearances.
• Likewise, Mainz have also registered just a single clean sheet from any of their last nine top-flight appearances.
• Seven of Mainz’s last eight Bundesliga appearances on the road have finished with both teams finding the net.
• Five of the last six meetings between Friday’s opponents have finished with both teams getting on the scoresheet.

Conclusion

Two sides who have continued to show their own respective defensive issues on either side of the summer interval, we could be treated to an enjoyable showdown this weekend. With Mainz falling to a 2-1 loss when they travelled to Bavaria last season, Friday’s opponents do have a habit of producing fireworks when they meet. With five of their previous six battles between Augsburg and Mainz finishing with both teams finding the net, we are expecting a similar outmode here.

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 2/3

Bookmaker: Dachbet