Union Berlin vs. Augsburg: probable line-ups, match stats and LIVE blog!

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It's been a near-flawless start to the 2021/22 season for Urs Fischer's Union, who have collected five points from the opening three games of the campaign without suffering defeat. That bright start is largely down to the performances of Kruse and Awoniyi, who have been involved in all five of the club's goals so far. The capital club grabbed three points for the first time in their last outing before the international break, beating Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-1 at their Stadion an der Alten Försterei. Awoniyi bagged his third goal of the season, with Kruse providing a pair of assists. With no new injury concerns coming out of the international break, Fischer is likely to bring the suspension-free Marvin Friedrich back into his three-man defence, with Paul Jaeckel dropping to the bench. Two late summer transfer window signings - Kevin Möhwald (Werder Bremen) and Bastian Oczipka (Schalke) could also be part of the matchday squad for the first time.

It's been a near polar-opposite start to the campaign for Markus Weinzierl and Augsburg. Die Fuggerstädter have collected only one point from their opening three games and have scored just a single goal. Two heavy home defeats at the hands of Hoffenheim and Bayer Leverkusen have come either side of an away draw at Eintracht Frankfurt - which could at least give the Bavarians some hope that they could take points home. However, Weinzierl has injury concerns with as many as four central midfielders potentially missing. Raphael Framberger could be deployed there in an emergency alongside Reece Oxford, with question marks over captain Jeffrey Gouweleeuw and Felix Uduokhai.

Match stats

Awoniyi has had a direct hand in seven goals in six competitive matches so far this season (five goals, two assists).

Kruse - Union's 11-goal top scorer in 2020/21 - has set up two of Awoniyi's three Bundesliga goals in 2021/22.

Union are three matches unbeaten to start a season for the first time since gaining promotion to the Bundesliga in 2019.

Niederlechner scored a career-best 13 Bundesliga goals in 2019/20, but has found the net just six times in 31 league matches since.

Weinzierl has overseen just one win in his last nine Bundesliga matches across his two spells as Augsburg coach (D3, L5).

Augsburg are winless in their last seven away matches in the Bundesliga.

Probable line-ups

Union: Luthe - Friedrich, Knoche, Baumgartl - Trimmel (c), Möhwald, Khedira, Gießelmann - Haraguchi - Kruse, Awoniyi

Out: -

Doubtful: Oczipka (match fitness), Prömel (match fitness)

Coach: Urs Fischer

Augsburg: Gikiewicz - Gumny, Oxford, Uduokhai (c), Iago - Maier, Dorsch - Caligiuri, Hahn, Vargas - Niederlechner

Out: Gruezo (international duty), Moravek (groin)

Doubtful: Gouweleeuw (groin), Strobl (ankle)

Coach: Markus Weinzierl