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A new Bundesliga campaign begins at the WWK Arena on Sunday evening, where Augsburg will welcome newly promoted Schalke 04 in the opening weekend of the season.
The hosts are preparing for an impressive 16th straight campaign in Germany's top flight, while Schalke are finally returning to the division after spending the last three years in the 2. Bundesliga.
There is therefore a sense of a changing of the guard about this fixture, although both clubs will be looking to start the season with a victory after enjoying success in the DFB-Pokal last weekend.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Augsburg vs. Schalke 04 key stats
- Augsburg are unbeaten in 11 of their last 12 games at home.
- Schalke have lost 30 of their last 45 away Bundesliga matches.
- Ten of Augsburg's last 13 matches across all competitions saw 10 or more corners.
Augsburg vs. Schalke 04 preview: Seven-time champions return to the elite
Augsburg vs Schalke 04 — Tale of the Tape
| Augsburg | vs | Schalke 04 |
|---|---|---|
| 9th | Position (2025/26 Season) | 1st |
| 43 | Points | 70 |
| 45 | Goals For | 50 |
| 61 | Goals Against | 31 |
| 5 | Clean Sheets | 14 |
| 8th/10th | Home / Away Rank | 1st/4th |
Augsburg looked destined for a relegation battle last season before Manuel Baum's return sparked a dramatic turnaround, with the experienced coach completely transforming their fortunes.
Initially brought in on an interim basis following Sandro Wagner's departure, Baum did enough to convince the club's hierarchy that he was the right man to oversee the team on a permanent basis.
The 46-year-old has now been rewarded with a two-year contract and has spent the summer reshaping a squad that has undergone significant change, with 16 players leaving the club.
Among the most notable departures were Dimitrios Giannoulis, Keven Schlotterbeck and Cedric Zesiger, but Augsburg have reinvested some of those funds by making Rodrigo Ribeiro their biggest signing of the summer at a fee exceeding £4m.
They have also secured Michael Gregoritsch on a permanent basis after his loan spell last season, with the Austrian striker finishing as Augsburg's leading scorer after finding the net six times.
Baum could hardly have asked for a better competitive start from his new-look team, as Augsburg defeated Energie Cottbus 2-0 in the DFB-Pokal, although Steve Mounie and Tim Breithaupt remain doubts for Sunday's opener, with Gregoritsch expected to lead the attack.
When it comes to Schalke, their three-year wait for a return to the Bundesliga is finally over. The Royal Blues earned promotion as champions after an outstanding 2. Bundesliga campaign.
The seven-time German champions accumulated 70 points to finish top of the division and were particularly impressive defensively, conceding fewer goals than any other side across Germany's top three tiers.
Their promotion success will count for little, however, if they cannot translate that form to the Bundesliga, where Schalke have managed only two victories across their last 45 away matches.
There is plenty of experience within the squad to help them navigate that challenge, none more so than Edin Dzeko, who will make history as the fourth-oldest player to feature in Bundesliga history when he takes to the field at the age of 40.
Dzeko contributed six goals in 11 appearances last season and showed that his finishing touch remains intact by scoring twice in last weekend's DFB-Pokal victory over Hallescher, although Moussa Sylla is expected to get the nod up front against Augsburg.
Austrian boss Miron Muslic has also strengthened his options since taking charge, with Satoshi Tanaka, Junior Dina Ebimbe, Maximilian Wober, Robin Gosens and goalkeeper Kevin Muller among the summer arrivals, while Adrian Gantenbein, Emil Hojlund and Bryan Lasme are expected to miss the opener through ankle, heel and calf problems respectively.
Augsburg vs. Schalke 04 form guide & betting tips
| Augsburg | vs | Schalke 04 |
|---|---|---|
W
|
Form (All Competitions) | W
|
| 2 | Goals For | 5 |
| 0 | Goals Against | 2 |
Whispers predicts: Augsburg 2-1 Schalke 04
When you take into account Augsburg’s solid home record and Schalke’s struggles away from home, backing the hosts at around the 6/5 mark in the outright market is the way to go.
Seven of Augsburg’s previous eight Bundesliga matches have seen both teams score, and we are backing that trend to continue at around the 31/50 odds mark.
When looking for serious value, the correct score market deserves serious consideration.
At the time of writing, Augsburg are available at 8/1 to win their Bundesliga season opener by the 2-1 scoreline.
> Augsburg to win at 6/5 | Likelihood: Probable
> Both teams to score at 31/50 | Likelihood: Probable
> Correct score 2-1 at 8/1 | Likelihood: Outsider