Augsburg’s goal rush is costing Manuel Baum his peace of mind

Plenty of goals, not enough control

Manuel Baum is enjoying the entertainment FC Augsburg provide almost as much as everyone else—but he would prefer his team to win without so much drama. Augsburg have scored at least twice in each of their first six Bundesliga matches, a club record, yet their 16 goals have brought only eight points.

Four consecutive matches without a victory have put the spotlight on the team’s defending ahead of Saturday’s home match against Union Berlin. “If we win matches, there can be as much spectacle as anyone wants,” Baum said at Thursday’s press conference. “But I have to say there was way too much spectacle in Elversberg.”

Baum acknowledged that the matches are entertaining for neutral observers, but said he could do with “a bit more calm in some situations.” His frustration reflects a recurring pattern: Augsburg have led in five of their six league fixtures, but have struggled to hold on to their advantage.

Late goals and a wild defeat

Augsburg have conceded 11 goals during their four-match winless run, with five of their goals against this season arriving in the final 10 minutes. They have let leads slip against Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich and Werder Bremen.

Last weekend’s 4-3 defeat at SV Elversberg was the most spectacular example. The seven-goal match included four penalties and several contentious VAR interventions. Augsburg nearly recovered from a three-goal deficit, but left empty-handed. Baum was also unhappy with the officiating, particularly a late penalty he believed his side should have received.

The loss, however, sharpened a concern beyond the refereeing: Augsburg’s attacking output has not been matched by the defensive resilience needed to turn promising performances into wins. They have scored 16 times in the Bundesliga this season, second only to Bayern Munich’s 22, but the goals have not delivered a strong points return.

Only weeks ago, after a comeback win over Eintracht Frankfurt, Augsburg briefly reached the top of the Bundesliga table for the first time in club history. The current run has brought a less comfortable reality. For the spectators, Baum’s side remain anything but dull; for their coach, fewer late scares would be welcome.