Captain's Return to FC Augsburg Imminent: Too Early for BVB Game - Augsburg's defensive crisis deepens ahead of Dortmund showdown
FC Augsburg faces further defensive setbacks ahead of their Bundesliga clash with Borussia Dortmund. Captain Jeffrey Gouweleeuw remains sidelined despite nearing a return from knee surgery, while young defender Noahkai Banks may also miss the match. Coach Manuel Baum still aims for his team to challenge the league's top sides.
Gouweleeuw underwent knee surgery in November 2025 and has since made only five league appearances this season. Though he resumed training this week at 60 to 70 percent capacity, he will not feature in Saturday's away game against second-placed Dortmund. His full return is now expected after the international break in early April.
Details about his earlier injury history or rehabilitation remain unclear, as no public updates have been reported by sources like sport-in-augsburg.de or ksc.de. The absence of key defenders deepens Augsburg's problems, with Chrislain Matsima also unavailable and Banks struggling with a foot issue.
Baum, however, remains optimistic. He believes his side can compete with top teams and even secure an upset against Dortmund, despite the defensive shortages.
Augsburg will travel to Dortmund without Gouweleeuw, Banks, and Matsima. The captain's recovery continues, but his comeback is now targeted for after the April break. The team's focus remains on securing points against strong opposition, despite their injury troubles.
