Augsburg vs Schalke Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
The final game of the opening round of fixtures in the 2026-27 Bundesliga season sees the giants of Schalke return to the top-flight against Augsburg.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / USA – ESPN
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / USA – ESPN+
Augsburg preview: Fun Augsburg
Augsburg are the perennial mid-table side in the Bundesliga but there will be a hope that they can push themselves towards the top seven and the European spots this time around under the management of Manuel Baum.
Last season, Augsburg finished in the top-half of the table and were one of the more entertaining teams to watch in the division with their 34 Bundesliga matches consisting of 106 goals.
Schalke preview: Back in the Bundesliga
Schalke have spent far too long outside of the top-flight in German football but they have finally returned to the Bundesliga as a result of winning the 2. Bundesliga last season with a squad that will expect to cement their renewed top-flight status this season.
Last summer, Plymouth Argyle boss Miron Muslic, amid criticism from Argyle's hierarchy and their supporters, took the decision to leave the just-relegated-to-League One Pilgrims and join Schalke instead - and it has paid off.
Augsburg team news: More or less fully fit
Ahead of the visit of Schalke on the opening weekend of the campaign, Augsburg do not have any confirmed absentees with midfielder Sima Suso remaining a doubt due to a leg injury.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Dahmen; Gouweleeuw, Schlotterbeck, Matsima; Seol, Jakic, Rieder, Behrens; Komur, Claude-Maurice; Gregoritsch
Unavailable:
Questionable: Suso (Injured)
Schalke team news: A few doubts
Schalke head to Augsburg with some key doubts as new signings Robin Gosens and Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe may well be sidelined alongside Kenan Karaman.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Karius; Ayhan, Katic, Wober; Aouchiche, Ljubicic, Schallenberg, Tanaka, Gosens; Sylla, Hojlund
Unavailable: Gantenbein (Injured), Lasme (Injured)
Questionable: Gosens (Injured), Dina Ebimbe (Injured), Karaman (Injured)
Augsburg vs Schalke prediction
Schalke are one of the biggest clubs in German football and their absence from the Bundesliga has been a fairly humiliating one. Upon their return, great things should not necessarily be expected but they will be confident of ensuring relegation is not a fate that awaits them once more. Augsburg are awkward opposition on the opening day of the season but the hosts' desire to simply begin without losing may out-weigh any attacking intent and so a lower scoring clash may well be the best bet to go for this one at the WWK Arena.
Augsburg vs Schalke tip: Under 2.5 goals
