Preview: Augsburg vs. Hertha Berlin - prediction, team news, lineups

Both sides have made disappointing starts to the season, making this match a potentially important fixture in terms of shaping their aspirations.

Match preview

Three defeats from four matches has not been the start Enrico Maassen would have wanted to make in his first top-flight managerial role, with his side losing rather limply in a 1-0 defeat away to Hoffenheim last time out.

Perhaps most concerning for the 38-year-old is his side's general lack of goal threat, with last weekend's paltry effort of one shot on target taking their tally in that regard to only nine across four league games.

In truth, Hoffenheim had several chances to make their victory much more comfortable after Dennis Geiger's fine finish capped an excellent team move in the 39th minute, with substitute Munas Dabbur twice spurning golden opportunities to put the game to bed late on.

Maassen will hope returning to home soil against inferior opposition in the shape of Hertha on Sunday can inspire his side to a similar performance to the one which earned his only win so far away to Leverkusen, as they need to find much more cutting edge and sharply if they are to avoid a season of struggles.

Having flirted with relegation on several occasions in the last few seasons - including when narrowly defeating Hamburger SV in the relegation play-off at the end of the last campaign - Hertha are yet to see any major improvement under their new head coach Sandro Schwarz.

Like their forthcoming opponents, a lack of offensive quality has been the most noticeable drawback under the former Mainz 05 boss's tutelage, having blanked in successive 1-0 defeats to Borussia Monchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund in their last two matches.

However, those two sides will almost certainly finish several positions higher than Hertha, who have at least looked much more defensively secure than in recent times. Indeed, since their opening day 3-1 defeat to city rivals Union Berlin, no side has breached their defence twice in one match, so if they can get things right at the other end then there is every chance they will move up the table.

After a reasonably tough start to the season in terms of fixtures on paper, Schwarz will hope his reign truly gets up and running with an away victory against Augsburg on Sunday.

Augsburg Bundesliga form:

Augsburg form (all competitions):

Hertha Berlin Bundesliga form:

Hertha Berlin form (all competitions):

Team News

After appearing from the bench in each of Augsburg's last two defeats, Ruben Vargas could make his first start of the season now that he is fully up to speed following his return from the muscle injury which kept him out the opening two games.

Ricardo Pepi is likely to drop to the bench to accommodate the Switzerland forward, while Iago could revert to his more familiar left wing-back role, allowing Robert Gumny to fill in at centre-half.

Reece Oxford, Felix Uduokhai, Frederik Winther, Niklas Dorsch, Tobias Strobl and Noah Sarenren Bazee all remain sidelined for the hosts as part of a lengthy injury crisis, while Andre Hahn is a doubt with an ongoing ankle issue.

Hertha, meanwhile, have plenty of players out themselves, with Lee Dong-jun, Rune Jarstein, Linus Gechter, Kelian Nsona, Jessic Ngankam and Derry Scherhant all set to stay home in Berlin.

However, it would be fair to assert that Schwarz has fewer key players unavailable to him, especially with Marco Richter fully fit again having returned from testicular cancer surgery.

The forward looked lively when coming off the bench against Dortmund last weekend, but it may be too soon for him to start, which could see Stevan Jovetic earn a nod in the starting XI as Hertha look to finish more of the chances which they are creating.

Augsburg possible starting lineup:

Gikiewicz; Bauer, Gouweleeuw, Gumny; Pedersen, Maier, Rexhbecaj, Iago; Jensen; Demirovic, Vargas

Hertha Berlin possible starting lineup:

Christensen; Kenny, Uremovic, Kempf, Plattenhardt; Boetius, Tousart, Serdar; Lukebakio, Jovetic, Ejuke

We say: Augsburg 0-1 Hertha Berlin

With both sides struggling to find the net so far this season, it is hard to envisage too many goals between two teams short on confidence.

However, Hertha have looked a more balanced outfit during the early weeks of Schwarz's tenure, and we can see them edging a narrow victory on Sunday.

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