The match will be played behind closed doors at Augsburg's training ground, the Paul-Renz-Akademie. It is the second friendly of the international break for both teams, and both coaching staffs will use it to assess reserve players and restore match sharpness.
Augsburg
Augsburg come into the game in excellent form, with three wins in their last five matches, including emphatic victories over Schalke 04 (3:0) and Eintracht Frankfurt (4:1). They also drew 2:2 with Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga. Manuel Baum is likely to rest key players, but Augsburg have enough squad depth to retain control of the game. Michael Gregoritsch and Fabian Rieder stand out in attack, but both are involved in international matches, so Augsburg will have to rely on their immediate replacements. The friendly format and lack of competitive stakes are the only factors that could reduce the hosts' intensity.
Hertha BSC
Hertha BSC lead the 2. Bundesliga and are on the up, with six wins at the start of the season, but personnel problems are forcing Stefan Leitl to rotate his squad. The main absentee is forward Gustaf Nilsson, who will miss both friendlies during the break. That weakens the visitors' attack, which already falls short of their opponents in quality. The match will be played without spectators, depriving Hertha of their usual support, and the players may not be fully motivated for a closed-door game against Bundesliga opposition.
Augsburg vs Hertha BSC Prediction
Augsburg are at home, in better form and have a deeper squad, but rotation often narrows the gap in quality in friendlies. Without Nilsson, Hertha lose their main attacking threat, making a high-scoring game less likely. We expect few goals, with the hosts more likely to win thanks to the individual quality of some of their players, though a big scoreline looks unlikely.
