Augsburg vs Hertha BSC Berlin preview - Hertha hoping to change history

Visitors to the Augsburg Arena this Sunday Hertha Berlin should not be expecting too much in the way of excitement, at least not if history repeats itself.

Augsburg have played Hertha six times in the past and their last two home games have ended in goalless draws.

In total, five of the meetings between the two clubs have ended all square, although Augsburg do hold the overall upper hand thanks to a 3-0 win in 2012, when current Hertha coach Jos Luhukay was in charge of the Bavarians.

"It's going to be a tough match because Hertha are uncomfortable opponents who mark you man to man," said Augsburg coach Markus Weinzierl.

"We saw that last season when both games against Hertha were very tight, and they both ended 0-0.

"I fear we're going to see a similar game, but we will do all we can to win it. With our fans behind us, we want to pick up our next points."

Weinzierl has to find a replacement for Sascha Molders, who has been ruled out for a few weeks due to the ankle injury he sustained in the midweek defeat to Bayer Leverkusen.

Caiuby - who replaced him during Wednesday's 1-0 loss - or Tim Matavz are the alternatives to take his place.

Not only Luhukay is making his return to Augsburg this Sunday as defender Jens Hegeler, Marcel Ndjeng, Hajime Hosogai and Sebastian Langkamp also return to their former haunting ground.

Luhukay was the man who led Augsburg into the top flight of German football, and he kept them there against all odds in 2012 before dropping a division to take over at Hertha.

He led them into the Bundesliga at the first attempt and guided the Old Lady to safety last season, and a third straight season in the top flight is his and Hertha's aim this season.