Bundesliga: Baum Nears Augsburg Milestone Amid Claude-Maurice Speculation
Manuel Baum spent midweek watching Bayern Munich face Real Madrid in the Champions League. He called the match both entertaining and instructive.
On Saturday, his FC Augsburg side travels to Bayer Leverkusen. Kick-off is at 15:30 and the game will be shown on Sky.
Form and context
Augsburg beat Bayern 2-1 at the Allianz Arena this season. That match remains Bayern’s only league loss so far.
Baum noted the result, but said past achievements do not change preparation. Augsburg will seek a repeat performance against Leverkusen.
Milestone approaching
In the Bundesliga, Baum approaches an Augsburg milestone amid renewed Claude-Maurice speculation. He will reach the 100th Bundesliga match in charge of the club.
Baum returned to Augsburg in December. His comeback began with a 2-0 home win following Sandro Wagner’s departure.
Opposition and expectations
Leverkusen sit close to Champions League contention. They trail a qualification spot by four points.
Baum described the visitors as a top-quality team with occasional inconsistency. He expects a very exciting match.
Team news and player focus
Defender Jeffrey Gouweleeuw has a knee knock. His availability for the weekend remains uncertain.
Alexis Claude-Maurice is fit and available. He missed a penalty in last week’s 2-2 draw with Hoffenheim.
Claude-Maurice joined Augsburg on a free transfer from OGC Nice. His contract runs until the summer of 2027.
Manager’s assessment
Baum praised Claude-Maurice’s professionalism. He highlighted the player’s creativity and one-on-one strengths.
The coach also praised the player’s training standards. Baum said Claude-Maurice is fully focused on delivering for the team.
What to watch
- Whether Gouweleeuw recovers in time to play.
- How Claude-Maurice impacts Augsburg’s attack.
- Leverkusen’s response after recent inconsistent displays.
Filmogaz.com will follow developments and report squad updates ahead of kick-off.
