SC Freiburg vs. Augsburg preview: Freiburg look to build on strong campaign | OneFootball

Freiburg

Freiburg laid down a marker on opening weekend last season, beating Stuttgart 3-1 at Europa-Park Stadion to open a term that would end with Julian Schuster's men close to qualifying for the Champions League by May.

However, a showdown for the top four on the final day saw Eintracht Frankfurt secure their place, while Freiburg secured Europa League football again after a year away.

Julian Schuster has lost key members of the squad this summer, with Ritsu Doan moving on to Frankfurt, while Killian Sidillia moved on to Dutch giants PSV. However, the Freiburg way continues, with no panic ahead of the upcoming campaign.

Last season's 5th-place finish will be difficult to match; however, upsetting those with larger budgets and backing has become a common theme in Breisgau across the last decade, and it would not be a surprise to see the club fighting at the top end of the Bundesliga once again.

Team News

Summer arrival Igor Matanovic will miss the opening weeks of the season due to a thigh injury; the same can be said for Phillip Treu, Niclas Höfler and Max Rosenfelder, who are all due back at around the same time as Matanovic in mid-September.

Otherwise, it is Freiburg's famous word - continuität - for Julian Schuster heading into the opening weekend.

Predicted lineup - 4-2-3-1: Atubolu - Kübler, Ginter, Lienhart, Günter - Osterhage, Eggestein - Dinkci, Manzambi, Grifo - Höler

Augsburg

Die Fuggerstädter decided to make a managerial switch at the end of last season, with Jess Thorup being replaced by German National Team assistant Sandro Wagner, with Augsburg looking for a change regarding the style of play at the WWKArena.

After an under-par Hinrunde, Augsburg went on a marvellous 11-match unbeaten run in the Rückrunde, before an eventual loss to champions Bayern Munich in early April.

Goalkeeper Finn Dahmen impressed throughout the latter stages of the campaign, with the German-English shot stopper going on a proud run of not conceding in 683 minutes of Bundesliga football, before a contentious Hoffenheim penalty saw the run come to an end.

It is difficult to gauge expectations in the Fuggerstadt heading into the campaign, and the early weeks will be a good measure of the club's direction under their new coach.

Team News

Elvis Rexhbecaj will remain out until early October as a result of a sprained knee injury, while attacking midfielder Alexis Claude-Maurice is a doubt due to an ankle injury.

Predicted lineup - 3-4-2-1: Dahmen - Matsima, Gouweleeuw, Schlotterbeck -  Wolf, Massengo, Jakic, Giannoulis - Saad, Kömür - Tietz