FC Augsburg vs Union Berlin тАФ Match Preview
The Bundesliga action continues on Thursday, 15 January 2026, as struggling FC Augsburg host Union Berlin at the WWK Arena. The hosts find themselves in a precarious position, sitting 15th with just 14 points, hovering dangerously above the relegation zone. Their confidence took a massive hit last weekend after a crushing 0тАУ4 defeat to Borussia M├╢nchengladbach.
In contrast, Union Berlin (9th) arrive in Bavaria looking to bridge the gap to the European spots. The “Iron Ones” were held to a 2тАУ2 draw by Mainz 05 in their last outing but have been in decent form prior to that, including impressive wins over RB Leipzig and FC K├╢ln in December. With Augsburg desperate to stop the rot and Union aiming to crack the top seven, this Thursday night clash promises intensity.
FC Augsburg vs Union Berlin тАФ Match Info
- Competition: Bundesliga (Matchday 17)
- Venue: WWK Arena, Augsburg (Capacity: 30,660)
- Date: Thursday, 15 January 2026
- Kickoff: 20:30 CET | 19:30 GMT | 14:30 ET
- Referee: Florian Badst├╝bner (GER)
FC Augsburg vs Union Berlin тАФ Match Stakes
FC Augsburg (15th тАФ 14 pts):
- Win тЖТ Moves to 17 pts; provides crucial breathing room from the bottom three.
- Draw тЖТ Stops the bleeding after the 0тАУ4 loss, but keeps them in the danger zone.
- Loss тЖТ A potential disaster; if teams below them (St. Pauli/Heidenheim) pick up points, Augsburg could slide into the relegation places.
Union Berlin (9th тАФ 22 pts):
- Win тЖТ Moves to 25 pts; puts them firmly in the hunt for Conference League/Europa League qualification.
- Draw тЖТ Keeps them mid-table; a missed opportunity against a struggling side.
- Loss тЖТ Stalls their momentum; gap to the top 6 widens significantly.
FC Augsburg vs Union Berlin тАФ Team News
FC Augsburg:
- Gouweleeuw J. тАФ Out (Knee Injury – Captain & Defense Leader Missing)
- Matsima C. тАФ Out (Muscle Injury)
- Banks N. тАФ Expected to start at right-back in a reshuffled defense.
- Defensive Frailty: Without Gouweleeuw organizing the backline, Augsburg looked lost against Gladbach. Keven Schlotterbeck must step up as the leader.
Union Berlin:
- Skov R. тАФ Questionable (Muscle Injury)
- Skarke T. тАФ Questionable (Injury)
- Rothe T. тАФ Questionable (Injury)
- Stability: Bo Svensson (or current manager) is likely to stick with the trusted back three of Doekhi, Querfeld, and Leite, which has been solid for most of the campaign.
- Jeong Woo-Yeong: The South Korean adds energy and pressing intensity to the attack, supporting the physical presence of Andrej Ili─З.
FC Augsburg vs Union Berlin тАФ Team Form (Last 5 Matches)
FC Augsburg
- 11/01 тАФ 0тАУ4 vs B. Monchengladbach (Bundesliga)
- 20/12 тАФ 0тАУ0 vs Werder Bremen (Bundesliga)
- 13/12 тАФ 0тАУ1 vs Eintracht Frankfurt (Bundesliga)
- 06/12 тАФ 2тАУ0 vs Bayer Leverkusen (Bundesliga)
- 29/11 тАФ 0тАУ3 vs Hoffenheim (Bundesliga)
Union Berlin
- 10/01 тАФ 2тАУ2 vs Mainz (Bundesliga)
- 05/01 тАФ 2тАУ1 vs Aue (Friendly)
- 20/12 тАФ 1тАУ0 vs FC K├╢ln (Bundesliga)
- 13/12 тАФ 3тАУ1 vs RB Leipzig (Bundesliga)
- 06/12 тАФ 1тАУ3 vs Wolfsburg (Bundesliga)
FC Augsburg vs Union Berlin тАФ Head-to-Head (Last 5 Meetings)
- 17/05/2025 тАФ Augsburg 1тАУ2 Union Berlin (Bundesliga)
- 16/01/2025 тАФ Union Berlin 0тАУ2 Augsburg (Bundesliga)
- 13/04/2024 тАФ Augsburg 2тАУ0 Union Berlin (Bundesliga)
- 25/11/2023 тАФ Union Berlin 1тАУ1 Augsburg (Bundesliga)
- 06/05/23 тАФ Augsburg 1тАУ0 Union Berlin (Bundesliga)
FC Augsburg vs Union Berlin тАФ Playing XI (Predicted Lineups)
FC Augsburg (4-2-3-1)
Dahmen; Banks, Schlotterbeck, Zesiger, Giannoulis; Jakic, Massengo; Claude-Maurice, Rieder, Kade; Fellhauer (Note: Likely tactical shift or Essende/Tietz upfront depending on final selection, though Fellhauer listed in provided data).
Union Berlin (3-4-2-1)
Ronnow; Doekhi, Querfeld, Leite; Haberer, Khedira, Kemlein, Kohn; Jeong, Burke; Ilic
FC Augsburg vs Union Berlin тАФ Impact Bench
FC Augsburg: Rexhbe├зaj (Midfield grit), Essende (Goal threat)
Union Berlin: Hollerbach (Pace), Vertessen (Direct running)
FC Augsburg vs Union Berlin тАФ Tactical Analysis
FC Augsburg
Jess Thorup need a response. The 0тАУ4 loss highlighted major gaps in transition. At home, they will try to be aggressive, utilizing the pace of Ruben Vargas (if fit) or Kade on the wings. However, their main issue is defending set-pieces and counters. Without Gouweleeuw, they lack a vocal organizer to keep the line disciplined against Union’s physical forwards.
Union Berlin
Union are masters of the “ugly win.” They will happily surrender possession to Augsburg and look to strike via set-pieces (Leite and Doekhi are huge aerial threats) or quick transitions. Rani Khedira will anchor the midfield, breaking up play and releasing Jeong or Burke into the channels. If Augsburg overcommit, Union will punish them.
FC Augsburg vs Union Berlin тАФ Key Battles
- Ilic vs Schlotterbeck тАФ Physical duel; Union’s striker loves to battle center-backs.
- Khedira vs Rieder тАФ Can Augsburg’s creative hub find space against Union’s destroyer?
- Giannoulis vs Haberer тАФ The battle on the flank; expect plenty of crosses.
- Dahmen vs Ronnow тАФ The goalkeepers could decide this; Dahmen needs to recover confidence quickly.
FC Augsburg vs Union Berlin тАФ Spotlight Players
FC Augsburg тАФ Finn Dahmen
After shipping four goals, the goalkeeper is under the microscope. He needs a commanding performance to settle the nerves of his defense.
Union Berlin тАФ Leopold Querfeld
The young Austrian defender has been excellent. His ability to step out with the ball and win aerial duels makes him vital to Union’s system.
FC Augsburg vs Union Berlin тАФ Prediction
FC Augsburg 1тАУ2 Union Berlin
Augsburg are in a downward spiral (1 win in 5), and the loss of their captain Gouweleeuw is a massive blow. Union Berlin are resilient, organized, and have enough firepower to exploit a fragile defense. Expect Union to grind out a professional away victory, deepening Augsburg’s relegation worries.
FC Augsburg vs Union Berlin тАФ Betting Insights
- Union Berlin to Win тАФ Value Bet (Better form + Augsburg injuries).
- Over 2.5 Goals тАФ Likely (Augsburg conceding heavily).
- Both Teams to Score тАФ YES.
FC Augsburg vs Union Berlin тАФ Where to Watch
- Germany: DAZN / Sat.1
- UK: Sky Sports Mix
- USA: ESPN+
FC Augsburg vs Union Berlin тАФ FAQs
Q: When is the Augsburg vs Union Berlin match?
A: The match kicks off on Thursday, 15 January 2026, at 20:30 CET.
Q: Is Jeffrey Gouweleeuw playing?
A: No. The Augsburg captain is out with a knee injury.
Q: Who won the last meeting?
A: Union Berlin won 2тАУ1 at the WWK Arena in May 2025.
Call to Action тАФ SportsphereArena Community
Can Augsburg stop the rot at home?
If you enjoyed this preview, follow SportsphereArena.com for post-match ratings and Bundesliga updates.
Stay connected for real-time updates.
Stay informed. Stay analytical. Stay in the game.
ЁЯСЗ Comment your score prediction below ЁЯСЗ
Read more:-
15/1/2026 Match Previews
Racing Santander vs Barcelona тАФ Match Preview
Como vs AC Milan тАФ Match Preview
Burgos CF vs Valencia тАФ Match Preview
FC Augsburg vs Union Berlin тАФ Match Preview
Verona vs Bologna тАФ Match Preview
RB Leipzig vs Freiburg тАФ Match Preview
Official website










