Thorup: “Travelling to Munich with confidence”
FCA away at Bayern on matchday 11
First Team
20.11.2024, 15:00
FC Augsburg face FC Bayern München at the Allianz Arena on Friday night (20:30 CET). Head coach Jess Thorup has Ruben Vargas available again after his ankle injury.
The third international break of the season is over and the Bundesliga is back! 10 Augsburg players were away with their respective nations over the past week, with Frank Onyeka, Samuel Essende and Steve Mounié all qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. FCA also enjoyed success during the break, defeating third-division side FC Ingolstadt 7-0 in a friendly.
However, matchday 11 is sure to be a tricky one for the Fuggerstädter, though Thorup’s team are travelling to the league leaders on the back of some good form. “We believe in ourselves and are heading there with confidence,” said the head coach, whose side are unbeaten in their last four competitive games. “We have worked on a few ways of breaking down their solid defence. I hope that we can keep up our undefeated run.”
FCA are also hoping to put in a disciplined defensive performance, allowing them to put the record German champions under some pressure. Thorup added: “Being compact doesn’t just mean sitting on the edge of your own box. It’s about believing that we can get something there.” His team will be cheered on by around 4,000 fans in the north of Munich.
Rexhbecaj back from suspension
Ruben Vargas could return to the squad after his recent ankle injury, while Elvis Rexhbecaj is available again after serving his ban for five yellow cards. Kristijan Jakić, who suffered a blow to his knee on Nations League duty, should also be fit to play. Tim Breithaupt (ankle bone splintering) and Fredrik Jensen (groin) are still unavailable. There is hope regarding Robert Gumny after he played 65 minutes in the friendly against Ingolstadt.
