Augsburg vs RB Leipzig 03/04/19

3 April 2019

Augsburg and RB Leipzig go head-to-head for the DFB quarter-finals at the WWK Arena as the hosts hope to post their first win over the Red Bulls after three successive failures (D2, L1).

Still battling for the Bundesliga survival, the hosts’ only chance to save a disastrous season is getting as far as possible in the cup competition. Augsburg’s main problem is their inability to maintain consistency, which is why they’ve endured mixed fortunes in their last five competitive outings (W2, D1, L2). However, far more comfortable at home, the Fuggerstädter have pulled off three wins in four of their previous home games (W3, L1), scoring 2+ match goals in each success. Interestingly, on their way to the quarter-finals, Manuel Baum’s men had to eliminate just one top-flight outfit (Mainz) dumping Holstein Kiel and lower-league side Steinbach Haiger out of the competition during the run.

Meanwhile, the visitors are on their way of returning to the Champions League after a year of absence, but winning DFB Pokal is the only way they wrap up a major silverware this season. Except for the opening round of the cup, Leipzig’s road to the quarter-finals has been everything but simple. Ralf Ragnick’s players had to trash TSG Hoffenheim and Wolfsburg in the next two rounds, and they’ve done it without conceding a goal. The Red Bulls come into this meeting carrying a ten-game unbeaten run across all competitions on their backs (W7, D3), having won all five of their road clashes in that period. Furthermore, the Bulls have gone from five consecutive road defeats to five straight triumphs, with four of those wins saw them beating their rivals to nil.