Established underdogs embark upon fresh start

Since FC Augsburg have been in the Bundesliga, a number of bigger-name clubs have been relegated. Cologne, Hamburg, Schalke, Bremen, Stuttgart, Hertha, Frankfurt – they have all gone down to the second tier since FC Augsburg came up. But FC Augsburg have stayed – and often extricated themselves from tough situations.

And yet the name of "FC Augsburg" was frequently cited by pundits as a potential relegation candidate in the build-up to this season. FCA continue to fly under the radar – but the men from the Fuggerstadt did show on Matchday 2 of this season in Leverkusen that they are capable of beating anyone on their day. The 2-1 victory away to the Champions League participants was a total surprise, but it did come either side of home defeats at the hands of Freiburg (4-0) and Mainz (2-1).

New signings have arrived in a bid to bring about success, all of them tried-and-tested Bundesliga players. Arne Maier was signed on a permanent deal from Hertha BSC following a loan spell, while Elvis Rexhbecaj joined from VfL Wolfsburg. Ermedin Demirovic transferred to Augsburg from SC Freiburg and Maximilian Bayer came from relegated SpVgg Greuther Fürth. Thirty-four-year-old Austrian Julian Baumgartlinger was also brought into the fold in a bid to help the team with his experience.

That experience will be needed given that the three most valuable players in terms of market value are sidelined. Central defender Reece Oxford underwent a knee operation and is unavailable, while Niklas Dorsch suffered a broken metatarsal in pre-season. It was also confirmed on Tuesday that Felix Uduokhai would miss the game. The defensive player tore his syndesmosis ligament and will be out of the picture for around 12 weeks.

That means coach Enrico Maassen will be without three key players. The 38-year-old is working as a Bundesliga head coach for the first time this season but has already demonstrated his qualities elsewhere in the past. Maassen steered SV Drochtersen/Assel into the Regionalliga Nord, where he helped to establish the club, in his very first season. He subsequently switched to SV Rödinghausen, whom he initially guided to a third-placed finish in the Regionalliga West before helping TSG's DFB-Pokal opponents from this season to the title. With the club opting to forego promotion, Maassen took over the Borussia Dortmund second team and was swiftly promoted to the 3. Liga with only one defeat in 40 matches.

While Maassen's predecessor Markus Weinzierl almost always opted for a back four and two holding midfielders, the new coach has established a three-man defence – as he did at his previous clubs. "I'm very happy that we're now playing more football again. We're already controlling the ball more than we did last season, but it will naturally take more time until it's perfect," said wide player Mads Pedersen, in praise of the new coach.

However, FC Augsburg do not have a good record against TSG. Hoffenheim have won 13 of the previous 22 Bundesliga meetings, while FCA have triumphed only five times. FC Augsburg have only ever won once in Sinsheim. But TSG have been warned – FCA should ultimately never be underestimated.

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