Baum: “We’re really looking forward to the game”
Home opener against promoted Schalke
First Team
28.08.2026, 15:00
The wait is over for FC Augsburg as they begin their 2026/27 Bundesliga campaign on Sunday evening (17:30 CEST), when they welcome FC Schalke 04 to the WWK ARENA. The game is sold out and excitement is building at FCA ahead of the new season.
Head coach Manuel Baum, who celebrates his 47th birthday on Sunday, is eagerly anticipating the opening matchday. “We’re really looking forward to the game,” said Baum. This will be FCA’s 16th consecutive season in the German top flight. “It’s a privilege to play in the Bundesliga. It’s something very special.” He added that the nerves were beginning to build, “but in a positive way”.
FCA go into the game on the back of a 2-0 win away to 2. Bundesliga side Energie Cottbus in the first round of the DFB-Pokal. In the training sessions that followed, the team focused further on their “play in possession, defending and set pieces”, Baum explained.
FCA face a tough first game of the season against FC Schalke 04. Baum expects Miron Muslic’s side to still be “riding the high of promotion”. The FCA coach himself had a spell in charge of Schalke from September to December 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. He described the visitors as “a team full of energy who will fight for everything”, adding: “It’s going to be a really good battle.”
That will make the backing from the stands all the more important. “We need the stadium, we need our fans, we need the noise,” said Baum. They can certainly count on plenty of support, with the WWK ARENA sold out for Sunday.
Only Mounié and Breithaupt unavailable
FCA will be without Steve Mounié and Tim Breithaupt, but everyone else is fit. Alexis Claude-Maurice is an option again following his return, although he is unlikely to be ready to start just yet. New signing Youngwoo Seol could also feature. “He’s fully up to speed,” Baum said of the versatile wide player, who can operate on either side.
Before kick-off, Mads Pedersen will be officially bid farewell to the fans after joining Hertha BSC earlier this week. The Dane spent a total of seven years at FCA.
