FC Augsburg will face newly-promoted FC Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga season opener on August 30. The match at the WWK Arena kicks off at 17:30, as reported by the news outlet karlobag.eu.
Augsburg finished the previous 2025/26 season in tenth place with 33 points from 29 games. Their record showed nine wins, six draws, and 14 defeats, scoring 36 goals and conceding 53. Their recent form dipped with a five-match winless run. In the final standings, FCA trailed champions Bayern Munich by 43 points.
How is Augsburg preparing for the match?
Head coach Manuel Baum, whose contract has been extended until 2028, knows his team must raise their game. "His team would have to be better against Schalke," said Baum. Preparations began with a 2:0 cup win against Energie Cottbus. Anton Kade and Kristijan Jakić scored the goals. The defensive trio featured Noahkai Banks, Keven Schlotterbeck, and Chrislain Matsima. Jeffrey Gouweleeuw missed out due to illness.
The second half of the 2026 season was historically strong for Augsburg. Their 28-point spring performance was the club's best-ever second half in the Bundesliga. That was the sixth-best record in the entire league during that period. It was supported by an eight-match unbeaten run at home. The attack was led by Anton Kade, Michael Gregoritsch, and Fabian Rieder, who each scored six league goals.
What is the role of the key players?
Goalkeeper Finn Dahmen was a constant presence. He played all 3,060 league minutes last season and made 116 saves. Only three other Bundesliga goalkeepers made more stops. In midfield, Robin Fellhauer covered 343.8 kilometres, the highest distance in the squad. The full team overview is available on our squad page.
What makes opponents Schalke a threat?
FC Schalke 04 returns to the Bundesliga after three years away. As champions of the 2. Bundesliga with 70 points and 21 wins, they dominated the league. They were in a promotion spot from the eighth round onward and led the table almost constantly from the 14th round. Promotion was mathematically secured with two games to spare.
Captain Kenan Karaman was the key player. The 2. Bundesliga's best player netted 14 goals and provided five assists. His goal sealed promotion. However, he suffered a painful hip bruise in a pre-season match against Atalanta. Coach Miron Muslić also has a cup tie against Hallescher FC to navigate six days before the trip to Augsburg. Pre-season friendlies against Atalanta and Real Madrid both ended in 0:3 defeats.
What comes after the season opener?
The direct clash with the promoted side offers Augsburg a chance to put the poor end to last season behind them. All of FCA's upcoming fixtures are listed in our fixtures calendar. The current table situation and detailed statistics from last season can be found on the standings and stats pages. The home game against Schalke on August 30 marks the start of a new campaign where Augsburg aims to recapture their strong spring form.
