Halloween brings more than costumes and candy to the WWK Arena—it brings Borussia Dortmund, hungry for revenge after losing both league meetings with Augsburg last season. While BVB arrive in red-hot form, the hosts are trapped in a nightmare, reeling from a humiliating DFB-Pokal exit to second-tier Bochum. Can Sandro Wagner’s shell-shocked squad summon a response, or will Dortmund continue haunting them?
Table of Contents
Augsburg vs Dortmund: Match Overview
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Competition | Bundesliga 2025-26 |
| Venue | WWK Arena, Augsburg |
| Date & Time | Friday, November 1, 2025 |
| League Position | Augsburg (near bottom) vs Dortmund (top 4) |
| Last Season H2H | Augsburg won both meetings |
| Augsburg Form | 6-0 loss to Leipzig, 1-0 loss to Bochum |
| Dortmund Form | 1-0 win vs Köln, 4-2 penalties vs Frankfurt |
Augsburg’s Horror Show Continues
Rock bottom doesn’t begin to describe Augsburg’s situation. A 6-0 demolition by Leipzig was followed by a shocking 1-0 DFB-Pokal exit to relegated Bochum—a team struggling in the 2.Bundesliga. Christian Jakic admitted players were “at a loss for words” after that humiliation.
Manager Sandro Wagner faces mounting pressure, though he’s navigated storms before. A four-game losing streak in late August through September was rescued by a statement victory over Wolfsburg. Can lightning strike twice at the WWK Arena?
The good news? Augsburg have a relatively clean injury report. Jeff Gouweleeuw misses out while battling back to fitness, and Chrislain Matsima’s availability remains uncertain. Otherwise, Wagner can field his strongest XI—the question is whether belief exists in that dressing room.
Explore tactical insights on our Bundesliga coverage.
Dortmund’s Resurgence Under Kovac
Niko Kovac’s Dortmund are finding their rhythm. A dramatic 96th-minute winner from Maximilian Beier secured a 1-0 victory over Köln, showcasing the resilience champions need. Their midweek DFB-Pokal triumph over Frankfurt—coming from behind to win 4-2 on penalties—demonstrated squad depth and mental fortitude.
Kovac’s rotation strategy is paying dividends. Serhou Guirassy, Aaron Anselmino, Jobe Bellingham, and Julian Brandt all received valuable minutes, while Chukwuemeka and Nmecha impressed off the bench. This depth will be crucial as fixtures pile up.
Revenge motivates BVB. Losing both league meetings with Augsburg last season stung—Friday night offers the perfect opportunity for payback. With momentum building, Dortmund sense vulnerability in their struggling hosts.
Check our German football analysis for deeper tactical breakdowns.
Team News & Tactical Setup
Augsburg: Wagner confirms Niklas Süle (toe) and Nico Schlotterbeck (cold) are unavailable, but Ramy Bensebaini should travel. Emre Can (adductor) and Julien Duranville (shoulder) are recovering but likely miss out.
Predicted Augsburg XI (3-4-3): Dahmen; Jakic, Matsima, Banks; Kade, Fellhauer, Massengo, Giannoulis; Rieder, Claude-Maurice, Komur
Predicted Dortmund XI (3-4-2-1): Kobel; Anselmino, Anton, Bensebaini; Couto, Sabitzer, Nmecha, Svensson; Adeyemi, Brandt; Guirassy
Augsburg will likely deploy a defensive block, looking to frustrate Dortmund and hit on transitions. Their confidence is shattered, so pragmatism trumps ambition. Set-pieces offer their best scoring opportunities.
Dortmund will dominate possession, utilizing their attacking quality to stretch Augsburg’s defense. Guirassy’s physical presence, combined with Adeyemi’s pace and Brandt’s creativity, creates multiple threats. Expect patient build-up punctuated by explosive attacking moves.
For official Bundesliga updates, visit Bundesliga’s official site.
The Verdict
Form suggests only one outcome. Dortmund are confident, organized, and motivated by last season’s defeats. Augsburg are fragile, demoralized, and desperately seeking answers. The gulf in quality and momentum appears insurmountable.
However, football’s unpredictability means Augsburg could channel desperation into performance. If they capture early momentum and the crowd rallies behind them, stranger things have happened. But realistically, BVB should cruise to victory.
Final Prediction: Augsburg 0-3 Borussia Dortmund
Dortmund exorcise last season’s demons with a comprehensive away victory, piling more pressure on Wagner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does Augsburg vs Borussia Dortmund kick off?
The match kicks off on Friday, November 1, 2025, at the WWK Arena in Augsburg. This is Dortmund’s first Friday night fixture of the season. Check local Bundesliga broadcasters for exact kick-off times and viewing options in your region. In Germany, the match will be available through Sky Sport Bundesliga.
Why did Dortmund lose both matches to Augsburg last season?
Dortmund’s double defeat to Augsburg last season was surprising given the quality gap between the squads. Tactical issues, defensive lapses, and Augsburg’s ability to exploit transitions proved decisive. Under Niko Kovac, Dortmund have addressed these vulnerabilities through improved defensive organization and squad rotation. With revenge on their minds and superior current form—including recent victories over Köln and Frankfurt—BVB are determined to reverse last season’s embarrassment and establish dominance in this fixture.
