Augsburg come into this one with a point to prove. They've been the Bundesliga's great survivors for years, the kind of side that grinds out results when everyone expects them to fold. Recent form has been patchy, but there's a real pulse under the new setup. The double-six axis of Rieder and Massengo was among the league's best at creating pre-assists last season — that's not luck, that's a system. They feed the attack with purpose, and at home, in front of their own crowd, they tend to find an extra gear. Augsburg are not pretty, but they are effective. They'll make this ugly if they have to.

Schalke, meanwhile, are back in the top flight after a spell in the wilderness. They've got history, a big fanbase, and a stadium that can shake. But this is a young squad still finding its feet at this level. Their recent friendly against Real Madrid showed flashes — they held their own for stretches — but friendlies are not the Bundesliga. The intensity, the physicality, the second balls — that's a different beast. Schalke will be brave, but they're also vulnerable away from home. This is the kind of fixture where their inexperience shows. Augsburg smell blood here.