Augsburg vs Darmstadt 98 Predictions, Betting Tips, & Match Preview

Augsburg turned a new page this summer with new coach Dirk Schuster, who arrived in Bavaria from opponents Darmstadt 98, replacing the Schalke 04-bound Makus Weinzierl. Coach Schuster’s next step will no doubt be to try and establish Augsburg as top-ten material after their 12th placed finish last season, a task that looks to be easier said than done after their first four fixtures. Augsburg have picked up just four points so far this season, three of which came from a 2-1 win away to the out-of-form Werder Bremen the weekend before last, the other point came from their deadlocked 0-0 draw away to Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday. Icelandic striker Alfred Finnbogason, who scored seven goals in fourteen appearances for Augsburg last season, is yet to register a competitive goal since his loan move was made permanent.

Darmstadt 98’s eventual survival in the Bundesliga last season came as a huge surprise to many who thought that, for a relatively small side, back-to-back promotions with very little investment, would almost certainly see their demise. Darmstadt’s performances so far this season without “superstar” Sandro Wagner, who scored 14 goals over 32 appearances and signed for TSG Hoffenheim during the transfer window, however, have been unsurprisingly bleak. Wagner was, by %, not only Darmstadt’s most involved player, when combining assists and goals scored, but one of the most vital players for any team in the Bundesliga last season. Darmstadt have no player that comes close to replacing his role in the team and are somewhat fortunate to also be standing on four points. Both their 1-0 win at home to Frankfurt in gameweek two and their 1-1 draw at home to Hoffenheim on Tuesday came against the general run of play.

While the visitors are the weaker side on paper and not in particularly amazing form, we can’t justify backing the hosts here at the bookies price of 4/7. Augsburg are in poor form at home, having lost their last three Bundesliga home matches and have won of the last ten on their own turf (W1 D4 L5). Darmstadt did, admittedly, look more comfortable last time out and seem to be getting over life without Wagner. In particular, Darmstadt’s goalkeeper Michael Esser was outstanding between the sticks. He kept Darmstadt in the game with crucial saves in several difficult situations against Hoffenheim. Augsburg were also disciplined defensively and organised at the back last time out. When considering the above combined with the fact that neither side is in top goal-scoring form, we expect this match to play out as a deadlocked and uneventful affair.

As such, Darmstadt or draw at 7/5 and draw 0-0 at 9/1 with bet365 are our choice bets for this match.