Union Berlin kick off their 2020-21 Bundesliga campaign on Saturday when they welcome Augsburg to the Stadion An der Alten Forsterei.
Union occupied 11th spot at the close of play last season, while Augsburg avoided the drop by six points as they placed 15th in the 2019-20 campaign.
Match preview
Union Berlin certainly exceeded expectations in their first ever season in the German top flight, and Urs Fischer's side comfortably secured another year in the big time with 41 points to show from 34 matches.
Avoiding relegation will be the minimum for Union again this season, but should Fischer's men carry the momentum over from their strong end to the previous campaign, Die Eisernen have every right to be thinking about a top-half finish in what is only their second ever season in the Bundesliga.
Union concluded the 2019-20 season with a dominant 3-0 win over relegated Fortuna Dusseldorf, and Die Eisernen tasted victory in three of their final four matches in the disrupted campaign.
Fischer's side enjoyed a strong set of results in pre-season friendlies, the most notable of which was a 2-2 draw with Ajax at the Johan Cruyff Arena back in August.
Like most German teams, Union have already kicked off their competitive campaign with a first-round match in the DFB-Pokal, and Die Eisernen overcame second-tier side Karlsruher SC to advance to the next stage, albeit after extra time.
Meanwhile, Augsburg supporters will be hoping for a much-improved campaign from their side after Die Fuggerstadter finished alarmingly close to the drop zone in the 2019-20 season.
Indeed, Augsburg finished five points clear of Werder Bremen in the relegation playoff spot, and Heiko Herrlich witnessed his side pick up a mere two wins when the top flight resumed amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Like their opening-day opponents, Augsburg also took on Ajax in a friendly fixture over the summer, but the Eredivisie outfit came up trumps in that one to condemn Herrlich's side to their only pre-season defeat.
Augsburg took to the pitch last Saturday for their DFB-Pokal tie with fifth-tier side MTV Eintracht Celle, and the Bundesliga outfit stormed to a 7-0 victory, with new arrival Daniel Caligiuri getting on the scoresheet.
However, Augsburg have not triumphed against Union since the two sides were plying their trade in the 2.Bundesliga back in 2010, and Union took the spoils with a 2-0 victory in this fixture last season.
Union Berlin form (all competitions): W
Augsburg form (all competitions): W
Team News
Union new boy Max Kruse is not expected to find himself in the starting lineup owing to an ankle injury, but Fischer is hopeful that the 32-year-old can make the squad.
Fellow striker Anthony Ujah is sidelined with a knee problem, while Keita Endo is also injured, meaning Cedric Teuchert can look forward to another start up top.
Midfielder Robert Andrich will be vying for a spot in the first XI having come off the bench in the victory over Karlsruher.
As for Augsburg, Jan Movarek will miss the opening game of the season with a muscle problem, while Marco Richter is nursing an ankle injury.
Herrlich will also be unable to call upon Eduard Lowen and Noah Sarenren Bazee, who have only just made their returns to training.
The Augsburg attack will be spearheaded by Florian Niederlechner, who chalked up 13 goals and eight assists for Die Fuggerstadter last season.
Union Berlin possible starting lineup:
Luthe; Schlotterbeck, Knocke, Friedrich; Trimmel, Andrich, Promel, Giesselmann; Ingvartsen, Bulter; Teuchert
Augsburg possible starting lineup:
Gikiewicz; Gumny, Gouweleeuw, Uduokhai, Iago; Caligiuri, Khedira, Strobl, Vargas; Gregoritsch, Niederlechner
We say: Union Berlin 1-1 Augsburg
Both sides will not want to give too much away in their opener, and that makes for a cagey affair this weekend. Niederlechner will look to carry on his prolific goalscoring form from the previous campaign, but Augsburg have made several impressive signings over the summer, so we expect this one to end all square.
