Bitesize Prediction: Augsburg vs Schalke
Competition: Bundesliga
Market: Both teams to score
Hoping to find a route out of the relegation zone on Saturday afternoon, Schalke will make the trip to the WWK Arena when they meet Augsburg.
Starting with the hosts, eventually falling to an action-packed 5-3 loss away at defending champions Bayern Munich last weekend, Enrico Maaßen’s men will be glad to make a return to home soil here. While the Bavaria-based outfit might have failed to clinch back-to-back Bundesliga victories since back in October, the Reds hold a commanding seven-point buffer over getting dragged into a relegation scrap. While Augsburg might have shown some extended defensive issues since opening 2023, the one-time Borussia Dortmund coach has seen his side continue to shine at the WWK Arena. In fact, last seen in front of their own supporters picking up a 2-1 victory against Werder Bremen, Saturday’s hosts have won each of their last five straight domestic showdowns on home soil – a run that stems all the way back to November 12th.
As for the visitors, while Schalke might once again find themselves at the heart of another Bundesliga relegation scrap, Thomas Reis’ men are enjoying a recent boost. Putting in a gritty display last weekend as they snatched a 2-2 draw against bitter local rivals Borussia Dortmund, the Blues are unbeaten in each of their last seven straight domestic showdowns. With their top-flight purple patch stemming all the way back to a 6-1 drumming against RB Leipzig on January 24th, the Gelsenkirchen-based outfit will be desperate to spring a Bundesliga upset here. With their recent flurry highlighted by a 2-1 victory against Stuttgart last month, Schalke have bagged over 1.5 goals in their three consecutive appearances. Likewise, with three of the last four meetings between Saturday’s opponents finishing with both teams finding the net, we are expecting a similar outcome here.