Augsburg vs Borussia Dortmund Prediction: Bookings for Bensebaini and Massengo

Augsburg and Borussia Dortmund experienced contrasting fortunes in the DFB-Pokal in midweek, with the former losing 1-0 at home to VFL Bochum, and the latter drawing 1-1 away to Eintracht Frankfurt before booking their ticket to the next round on penalties.

The two sides are back in Bundesliga action on Friday (19:30 GMT, BBC iPlayer), and you can build up to the action at WWK Arena by checking out my Augsburg vs Borussia Dortmund predictions below.

Team News

Augsburg defender Jeffrey Gouweleeuw (knee) has missed his side’s last six games through injury, and the 34-year-old remains sidelined for the Friday night visit of Borussia Dortmund.

Otherwise, head coach Sandro Wagner appears to have a full complement available to him. After losing 6-0 at home to RB Leipzig last time out in the Bundesliga, the former Germany striker may make several changes to his starting XI this week, with Samuel Essende, who scored seven times in 30 league appearances last season, a player who could profit.

Football Odds

As for the visitors, Emre Can (groin) and Julien Duranville (shoulder) remain sidelined.

Augsburg vs Borussia Dortmund Odds

Augsburg have lost five of their eight league games this season, including three of their four at home, and understandably, are underdogs (18/5) to win on Friday, handed an implied probability of 21.7%, while Dortmund (4/6) are thought to have a 60% chance of collecting all three points, despite losing both head-to-heads in 2024/25.

The draw is priced at 16/5, both teams to score at 8/15, and over 3.5 total goals at 5/4.

Bet Builder - Han-Noah Massengo (AUG) Carded, Ramy Bensebaini (DOR) Carded @ 13/2

Augsburg midfielder Han-Noah Massengo is yet to be booked this season, despite starting all eight of his side's league matches.

However, the 24-year-old, who was shown five yellows in 17 Ligue 1 appearances for AJ Auxerre last season, is averaging 1.1 fouls per game, committing three in a 1-1 draw with Koln.

On Friday, the Frenchman could be tasked with snuffing out the danger of Dortmund midfield counterpart Felix Nmecha, who was taken down twice in his team's last league contest, and came off the bench at the beginning of extra time in midweek, tempting Eintracht's Fares Chaibi into making a yellow-card foul in the 98th minute.

Today's Football Fixtures

I'm also backing Dortmund defender Ramy Bensebaini to pick up a booking at WWK Arena.

The Algeria international was issued six yellows in 31 Bundesliga appearances in 2024/25 and has already been booked three times in eight league games this term, while he has been cautioned in one of his three Uefa Champions League matches.

Bensebaini, who committed two fouls and was booked in last season's corresponding fixture, is averaging 1.8 fouls per game in Germany's top tier.

Bet Builder - Kristijan Jakic (AUG) 3+ Tackles, Nico Schlotterbeck (DOR) 2+ Tackles @ 13/8

Augsburg's Kristijan Jakic averaged 1.5 tackles per game in last season's Bundesliga, and after eight appearances (seven starts) this term, he's averaging 1.9 tackles per game.

The Croatian is a midfielder by trade, but he's played on the right-hand side of a back three in his side's last four games (three in the Bundesliga, one in the DFB-Pokal). He failed to record a tackle in the first of those, but made at least three in each of the next three.

In a 1-1 draw at FC Koln on October 18, Jakic registered three tackles, doubling that number a week later in Augsburg's big defeat to RB Leipzig. Then, against Bochum in the cup in midweek, he made another three.

Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck, meanwhile, is averaging 1.8 tackles per game in this season's Bundesliga (five appearances, all starts), making six across his last two outings (four v Bayern, two v Koln).

In 2024/25, the Germany international averaged 1.7 tackles per game in the competition, recording two in BVB's 2-1 defeat away to Augsburg in October 2024.

Offers

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