As the Bundesliga heats up in March, FC Augsburg host Borussia Dortmund at the WWK Arena. Dortmund, chasing shadows in the title race, can't afford slip-ups against a mid-table side like Augsburg. They're trailing Bayern by 11 points, and every win counts right now.
Augsburg have shown flashes of brilliance lately. Their last five games brought a loss to RB Leipzig, but before that, they notched wins over 1. FC Köln, Wolfsburg, and FC Heidenheim. It's a pattern that screams inconsistency, yet they've managed to grind out results when it matters. Still, that recent defeat to Mainz 05 stings, leaving them in ninth with 31 points from 25 games.
And Dortmund? They're a mixed bag themselves. A win against 1. FC Köln was solid, but losses to Bayern and Atalanta, plus a draw with RB Leipzig, highlight vulnerabilities. Despite this, they've racked up 55 points to sit second, boasting a stellar goal difference of plus 27. You sense they're built for bigger things, especially with Serhou Guirassy banging in 12 goals this season.
History favors the visitors. Dortmund lead the head-to-head charge, winning 18 of their meetings against Augsburg's five, with seven draws. Their latest clash in October ended 1-0 to Dortmund, so Augsburg will need to dig deep at home.
Injuries could tilt the scales. Augsburg are without Jeffrey Gouweleeuw until mid-April due to a ligament issue, and they're also missing Chrislain Matsima, Yannik Keitel, and Uchenna Ogundu. That thins their defense considerably. Dortmund aren't immune either; Filippo Mane and Carney Chukwuemeka are sidelined with muscle problems, Emre Can faces a longer cruciate ligament recovery, and Ramy Bensebaini is suspended. If Dortmund's predicted lineup holds—Kobel in goal, with Guirassy up top—they might just paper over the cracks.
Guirassy stands out as the player to watch for Dortmund. His 12 goals have been pivotal in their campaign, and I'd bet he's itching to add to that tally. Augsburg don't have anyone lighting up the scoresheet, which puts extra pressure on their collective effort.
Expect Dortmund to edge this one. They're the form team overall, despite recent wobbles, and Augsburg's absences won't help. It should be a tight affair, but Dortmund's quality up front gives them the nod.
They've got the momentum to secure three points and keep Bayern honest.
Recommended Bets
Bet 1 @1.80 — Dortmund to win; they're second in the league with a strong record and Augsburg's injuries weaken their defense.
Bet 2 @2.00 — Over 2.5 goals; both teams have seen plenty of scoring in recent matches, including Dortmund's high goal tally.
Bet 3 @2.50 — Serhou Guirassy to score anytime; he's Dortmund's top scorer with 12 goals, making him a constant threat.
Odds tend to shorten closer to kickoff — lock in value now.
