Pre-Match Report
Sahin before Augsburg: "An important game as regards the league table"
Niklas Süle will be out until the international break in mid-November due to an ankle injury he sustained in the match at Real Madrid. Karim Adeyemi, Yan Couto, Julien Duranville and Gio Reyna remain unavailable. Julian Ryerson suffered a minor knock and had to be substituted, "but I hope he'll be okay tomorrow," added Sahin. The full-back started the 2-1 home win over St. Pauli and the 5-2 defeat away to Real Madrid. The BVB head coach is hoping to call on his full-back again in Augsburg for the third match of this English week.
The personnel shortage means he only has 13 experienced senior players at his disposal, plus the youngsters: "Unfortunately, I can't rotate much," he says. If there is one area of the pitch where Sahin is spoilt for choice, it's defensive midfield. Captain Emre Can, Pascal Gross, Felix Nmecha, Marcel Sabitzer and Kjell Wätjen are all available for selection. Nmecha and Sabitzer were given the nod in Madrid. "The lads did very well," said Sahin, who, however, is not showing his cards when it comes to team selection in Augsburg: "We'll need every single one of them in the coming weeks."
"We have to deliver our performance"
Whichever players Sahin puts his trust in - they are expected to deliver a first away win in the Bundesliga. While BVB lead the home table after four wins from four games, there is still room for improvement away from home. The Black & Yellows have just one point to their name after three games away from home (Bremen, Stuttgart, Union). "It's a very important game for us in terms of the table. We have to stay up there," said Sahin, whose team are currently seventh, going on to add: "We simply have to win games away from home. Otherwise we won't achieve our goals. We're going to go for it and keep ourselves in contention. We're gunning to get the three points, but we have to deliver our performance." Every day, every game, every training session, every analysis is important in order to make progress. "We're keeping a clear head, following our path and always trying to create the momentum we need to get a win tomorrow," said Sahin.
"Unpleasant opposition"
Augsburg are currently 15th in the table and have picked up all seven of their Bundesliga points at home this season. FCA have lost three of their last four league games and have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last 12 matches. Sahin describes the team as ‘an unpleasant opposition. They've defended with five at the back a lot recently and have two strikers up front who can latch onto difficult balls to allow their team to move up the park." Sahin wants his team to play their own game, have a lot of possession and finish their chances: "We'll be well prepared, the lads have recovered well. Our aim is to get three points, of course, and to finally get some rewards away from home."
Christina Reinke