FC Augsburg captain Jeffrey Gouweleeuw will not play in the upcoming away match against Borussia Dortmund. Despite progress in his rehabilitation, coach Manuel Baum has deemed the Dutchman's return to be premature.

Captain's absence

Jeffrey Gouweleeuw will not play against Borussia Dortmund due to an injury that forced him to cut short Tuesday's training session.

Coach's decision

Manuel Baum emphasized that the defender's return is close, but playing in Dortmund would pose too great a risk.

Defensive squad problems

In addition to Gouweleeuw, the availability of young defender Noahkai Banks is also in question.

FC Augsburg captain Jeffrey Gouweleeuw will not play in the upcoming away match against Borussia Dortmund, despite progress in his injury rehabilitation. The coach of the Bavarian team, Manuel Baum, informed that the experienced defender's return to the squad for the match in Dortmund would be premature. The Dutch defender had recently been training individually, focusing on running, but on Tuesday he had to cut his session short. The coaching staff decided to rest the player to avoid risking a recurrence of the injury before the decisive phase of the season. Manuel Baum noted that while the captain's return is close, his full physical fitness remains the priority.

FC Augsburg's squad situation ahead of the clash with BVB remains complicated, as the availability of another defender, Noahkai Banks, is also in question. The absence of Jeffrey Gouweleeuw is particularly felt due to his role as the leader of the defensive line and the milestone nature of his current season. In January 2026, the player celebrated a decade of playing for FCA, making him one of the most experienced players in the club's history. Jeffrey Gouweleeuw joined FC Augsburg in January 2016 from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar. Over a decade, he became a pillar of the defense, repeatedly helping the team stay in the Bundesliga. In January 2026, the club officially celebrated his 10-year anniversary at Augsburg, highlighting his loyalty and influence in the dressing room.

Despite defensive weaknesses, the team from Augsburg approaches the match against Borussia Dortmund after a series of promising results, including a sensational victory over Bayern Munich in January 2026. The 2:1 win at that time broke Munich's unbeaten run and improved FCA's position in the Bundesliga table. The upcoming match in Dortmund will be another test for the defense led by Manuel Baum, which must cope without its most experienced component. [{"strona1": "FC Augsburg", "strona2": "Bayern Monachium", "wynik1": 2, "wynik2": 1, "runda": "Bundesliga"}]

FC Augsburg squad situation and events: 24 January 2026 — Victory over Bayern; January 2026 — Captain's anniversary; 10 March 2026 — Training session cut short; 12 March 2026 — Coach's decision

Mentioned People

  • Jeffrey Gouweleeuw — Dutch footballer, centre-back playing for German Bundesliga club FC Augsburg
  • Manuel Baum — German football coach and official, head coach of FC Augsburg since December 2025
  • Jess Thorup — Danish football coach and former player, previous coach of FC Augsburg
  • Serhou Guirassy — Borussia Dortmund forward, scorer in the match against VfL Wolfsburg
  • Noahkai Banks — young FC Augsburg defender whose availability for the match against BVB is in question