Matchday in focus: FC Augsburg  

Augsburg employ a 4-4-2 system, sit in 13th place in the table and will be looking to Ermedin Demirovic for goals on Saturday. 

Tactics

Augsburg are in 13th place in the Bundesliga standings going into Matchday 30, five points above the relegation play-off place, and therefore still need points to ensure survival. Enrico Maaßen, who’s been in the dugout since the start of the season, mostly relies on a 4-4-2 formation with two holding midfielders.

Enrico Maaßen.

Absentees

Frankfurt are without defensive quartet Hrvoje Smolcic, Kristijan Jakic, Philipp Max and Evan Ndicka due to injury.

For the visitors, Tobias Strobl, André Hahn, Mergim Berisha, goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz, Fredrik Jensen and Iago are all out injured. Reece Oxford is also not fit enough to be involved.

One to watch: Arne Maier

Hertha BSC academy product Arne Maier is now in his second season at Augsburg. At the age of 24, he’s already a leading figure for FCA and has also added goals to his game this term.

Hertha BSC academy product Arne Maier is now in his second season at Augsburg.

New-found goalscoring touch: having never scored in the Bundesliga for Hertha, Maier netted once last season for Augsburg and has four goals to his name in the current campaign.
Experienced for his age: the midfielder has made 128 Bundesliga appearances – among current players under 25, only Dayot Upamecano (166) and Eintracht’s Ndicka (130) have played more games in Germany’s top flight.
Tough tackler: Maier has won 63.3 percent of his challenges this season, the sixth most in the league.

Ermedin Demirovic has scored seven goals this season.

Key battle: Ermedin Demirovic vs. Randal Kolo Muani

Ermedin Demirovic came back from a three-match ban in last week’s 1-1 draw against Stuttgart. His return is a welcome boost for the run-in, as Augsburg collected just one point from a possible nine in his absence. The summer signing from Freiburg, who’s yet to miss a game through injury in his Bundesliga career, has posted seven goals and four assists this season. Only strike partner Berisha has been involved in more goals for Maaßen’s men.

Like Demirovic, Randal Kolo Muani was born in 1998 and wears the number nine. The Frankfurt striker has 13 goals and 10 assists to his name this season, with his pace and strength in one-v-ones proving particularly effective. With a top speed of 35.97 kilometres per hour, the Frenchman is the eighth fastest player in the Bundesliga, while his 63 successful dribbles puts him in the top five.