Augsburg vs Hoffenheim preview - Augsburg still targeting survival

Posted Saturday, January 31, 2015 by PA

Despite ending the first half of the campaign level on 27 points with fourth-placed Borussia Monchengladbach, Augsburg coach Markus Weinzierl still insists his side's priority is to avoid relegation this season.

Augsburg, who have been boosted by the arrival of defender Christoph Janker from Hertha Berlin, resume Bundesliga action against Hoffenheim on Sunday and Weinzierl is determined to ensure his team secure a fifth straight season in the top flight as soon as possible.

Weinzierl said: "I'm delighted that we've signed Christoph Janker because he is certainly going to be able to help us in our objective of avoiding relegation.

"We want to get to 40 points as quickly as possible in order to have nothing to do with relegation this season.

"Now our aim is to get three points that would take us onto 30.

"We've got a difficult challenge ahead and we have the necessary respect for Hoffenheim, who have plenty of individual class.

"But we want to win, put on a show for our fans and prove how strong we are at home."

That respect is mutual.

Hoffenheim coach Markus Gisdol, whose side are just one point and one place behind their opponents going into the weekend, said: "Augsburg are a good team, they are very united and incredibly strong on their own patch.

"They are certainly not the sort of opponents you would wish to face in your first game of the new year."

And they will have to face them without Niklas Sule, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with torn knee ligaments, while Sven Schipplock is likely to be left on the bench with Gisdol opting instead for Anthony Modeste and Adam Szalai in his attack.