Before the cup hit on Wednesday (8.45 p.m.) against FC Bayern, FC Augsburg can only hope to a limited extent for the tense personnel situation to improve. Except for the two defenders Maximilian Bauer and Jeffrey Gouweleeuw, who were suspended in the 2-3 draw in Cologne, it is unlikely that the recently absent professionals will return.

"We have to see if Arne Maier still makes it. But overall the squad will remain as it is now," said coach Enrico Maassen on Sunday evening shortly before the return trip to Augsburg. In addition to regular keeper Rafal Gikiewicz and midfielder Maier, the ailing professionals Reece Oxford, Felix Uduokhai, Niklas Dorsch, André Hahn, Noah Sarenren Bazee and Tobias Strobl were missing in Cologne.

Despite the ongoing shortage of personnel, the Augsburgers are hoping for a coup similar to that in mid-September, when the big favorite from Munich was defeated 1-0 in the Bundesliga duel. Regardless of the 2: 3 in Cologne after a 1-0 half-time lead, goalscorer Florian Niederlechner is looking forward to the game with confidence and anticipation: "Playing in Cologne is never easy - next to Dortmund it's the most unpleasant away game for me. Unfortunately, we were able to win the crucial one Didn't win duels and have lost again for a long time. The good thing is: we play again directly during the week and can give the right answer."

In Cologne, the team had to accept their first defeat since the beginning of September after ten points from four games. Coach Maaßen saw it in a similar way to Niederlechner: "The game in Cologne has to be worked up now and we have to show a better performance again against Bayern and Leipzig.