After their 2-1 win over Leverkusen, FC Augsburg have a home game against 1. FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday 20th August (15:30 CEST). FCA head coach Enrico Maaßen wants to take this momentum from last week with him, but at the same time he warns of the danger that the unbeaten opponents pose.

“Mainz are very compact, defend well and can switch the play effectively. We will need our best performance to get anything from there,” said the 38-year-old ahead of the clash with the Zero-Fivers, who have bagged four points from their opening two fixtures. Nevertheless, Maaßen and his team are aiming for their first home win in what will be their third game of the season: “We have to play with our chests puffed out and believe that we can win back-to-back games.”

The head coach spoke of a positive atmosphere throughout the training week, from which the team are well prepared. “The win was extremely important. In the first half, it was a complete performance and we scored a great goal,” said Maaßen, who was particularly pleased with the opening stages at the BayArena. FCA covered the most difference of any team on matchday 2, completing 118.13 kilometres, and this performance needs to be built on.

Vargas and Baumgartlinger as new squad options

Maaßen must continue to do without Reece Oxford, Niklas Dorsch, Frederik Winther, Noah Sarenren Bazee and Tobias Strohl. Ruben Vargas, on the other hand, has overcome his thigh injury and is in contention for selection. Arne Maier, who was only able to train in doses during the week, should also be fit for action on Saturday.

The FCA head coach neither confirmed nor denied whether new signing Julian Baumgartlinger will get his first minutes in a FCA jersey under his belt this weekend. Maaßen attested to the “sensational level of fitness” of the recently club-less midfield, who played 137 times for Mainz between 2011 and 2016. As such, the Austrian is also an option for the squad.

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