This is how the FCA goes into play in Hoffenheim
Even coach Jess Thorup does not always have an explanation ready if he should report why FC Augsburg in the Bundesliga currently acting so successfully. « It is currently going simply, » says the smart Dane. If you look at the second half of the season alone, the 55-year-old is currently training a Champions League aspirant. Only Bayer Leverkusen, Due to the victory on Friday evening against VfL Bochumand FC Bayern Munich scored more often during this period. Thorup and his team enjoy this moment, which, according to the coach, is « exceptional » for a club like the FCA. At the same time, he gives the reminder after his players played a possible European Cupplatz with a series of defeats towards the end of last season.
In Hoffenheim the FCA can crack the 40-point mark
After ten league games without defeat and before the away game against TSG Hoffenheim (Saturday, 3:30 p.m./Sky) Thorup sharpens the senses. 24 points are still to be awarded in which the FCA could implement the second participation in an international competition. No Augsburger speaks openly about this goal, instead Thorup tries to restraint. « »Out of respect for the opponents, I will not speak of relegationas long as it is not 100 % safe. Nobody talks about the table, Europe or 40 points in the cabin. » The liga remaining would probably not be achieved with a success in Hoffenheim, but it would seem strange, the coach would remain in his statement afterwards.
In his statements, Thorup is as defensive as his team on the pitch. Finn Dahmen has not conceded a goal for 613 minutes. If he exceeds six minutes in Hoffenheim, he moves up to seventh place in the ranking of the best Bundesliga keepers and overtakes records of Manuel Neuer and Tim Wiese. After 640 minutes he would have overtaken Oliver Reck. It seems excluded that Thorup suddenly storms anarchically. Thorup put it like this: « It is clear that we want to try to improve aggressively, but we must not think, now everything is going and now the focus is only on the offensive. »
Accordingly, Thorup felt little reason to change his starting eleven in Hoffenheim. In front of Dahmen, the central defenders Chrislain Matsima, Jeffrey Gouweleeuw and Cédric Zesiger, flanked by Marius Wolf (right) and Dimitrios Giannoulis (left). The “six” Frank Onyeka and Elvis Rexhbecaj should condense the midfield center, Fredrik Jensen and Alexis Claude-Maurice enliven the offensive. As the sole impact striker, Phillip Tietz will try his luck, who last scored the 1-0 win against VfL Wolfsburg. Mergim Berisha (training deficit) and Steve Mounié are not included.
This is how FC Augsburg plays
Starting eleven: Dahmen – Matsima, Gouweleeuw, Zesiger – Wolf, Onyeka, Rexhbecaj, Giannoulis – Jensen, Claude -Maurice – Tietz
Spare bench: Labrović (TW), Pedersen, Essendend, Maier, Jakić, Schlotterbeck, Kömür, Banks, Koudossou
