FCA have had a solid, if inconsistent season so far. While they have suffered numerous losses against direct rivals in the table, they have also repeatedly defeated opponents from the upper half, giving them anominal lead over the relegation zone.

This is probably one of the reasons why FC Augsburg's sporting management took early action, parting ways with former co-national coach Sandro Wagner on 1. December and replacing him with Manuel Baum. Baum’s influence is particularly evident in defence, where robustness and intense tackling characterise their play. This is reflected in the number of duels won, but also in the fourth-highest number of fouls and the highest number of yellow cards in the league.

At the other end of the pitch, the picture is similar. Fast transitions and aggressive pressing play a central role in Augsburg’s attack, though their problems finding the final pass into space and getting shots on goal are still all too visible. As a result, FCA have scored only twice in their last five games; the lowest tally in the league. This was compounded by the loss of centre-forward Phillip Tietz, who moved to league rivals FSV Mainz 05 during the winter break. 

Union and Augsburg have faced each other 16 times to date. Union won two of these, seven have ended in a draw, while the hosts won the other seven. However, Union earned their first ever Bundesliga point in Augsburg, and took all three points back to Berlin from their last trip there. 

Keven Schlotterbeck played 27 games in Union’s first Bundesliga season, though a particular highlight was his goal in the first round of the DFB Pokal. After his loan spell in Köpenick came to an end, the defender was initially loaned to VfL Bochum for another two years before finally leaving SC Freiburg for Augsburg.

Marc Lettau, assistant to the director of football at Union from May 2018 to December 2022, has been the squad planner in Augsburg since 2024/25.

Tom Rothe, Tim Skarke, Robert Skov and Dmytro Bogdanov will not be available to head coach Steffen Baumgart in Augsburg.

“Overall, we are looking forward to Augsburg and obviously hope to be successful," said Union head coach, Baumgart, during his press conference on Wednesday afternoon. "It is an interesting match, Augsburg are backed against a wall, have a relatively new coach, but still many individual qualities. Certainly, the club had higher aspirations at the beginning of the season and set other goals, but sometimes the football factor comes into play. We certainly want to finish the first half of the season successfully and will give everything for that.”

"Union are a really difficult opponent because they are really good at defending,” said FCA head coach, Manuel Baum earlier in the week. “Even when they attack, there are two or three moves we have to deal with because they are really well drilled, and set pieces are obviously a big issue too. But we just have to stay focused and then it will be a different game than against Gladbach."

Around 1,900 Union fans will travel to Augsburg for the game at the WWK Arena. The Union-Fahr-Zeughaus will also be on-site.