Augsburg vs Wolfsburg preview - Weinzierl: Augsburg still fighting

Posted Friday, March 06, 2015 by PA

Augsburg coach Markus Weinzierl insists his side's bubble has not burst as they prepare to host in-form Wolfsburg this weekend.

The Bavarians were the team of the moment when they beat Borussia Dortmund away to make it three straight wins, catapulting them into the top four in the Bundesliga in February.

Since then, though, they have picked up just two points from their last four games and, while still within touching distance of the top four and a place in the Champions League next season, questions are being asked whether they have already peaked.

"It's just part of the game that things don't always go according to plan," said Weinzierl. "We're not running out of breath.

"Maybe we've picked up too few points, but let's not forget we were up against strong opponents."

They don't come much stronger than Wolfsburg, although that does not worry Weinzierl.

"These are the big challenges that we want to rise to," he told Kicker magazine ahead of the visit of the Wolves, who have yet to be beaten in 2015.

That form, which includes a 4-1 victory over Bayern Munich, has practically secured Dieter Hecking's men a place in the Champions League next season while they reached the quarter-finals of the DFB-Pokal with a win in Leipzig this week.

The Wolves have not now lost in their last 15 competitive fixtures, including their last 12 in the Bundesliga.

Keeping that record going will be tough, however, with Hecking expecting Augsburg to put his side to the test.

"It's going to be very tactical," he predicted. "With their fans behind them, they are going to try all they can to get back into a positive run and we've got to be prepared for that."

After facing Augsburg, Wolfsburg have the next challenge in what is panning out to be a successful season when they face Inter Milan in the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday.