Augsburg kick off the new Bundesliga season with a point to prove. After a solid if unspectacular campaign, they’ve kept the core of a side that made life miserable for bigger teams at the WWK Arena. The double-six axis of Rieder and Massengo is the heartbeat — both were among the league’s leaders in pre-assists last term, which tells you they don’t just sit; they spring forward. There’s real creativity in that midfield, and if Baum can get his first-choice XI fit, this is a side that can hurt anyone on their day.

Schalke arrive as the great unknown. Back in the top flight after a bruising spell in the second tier, they’ve spent big and brought in experience — but pre-season has been a mixed bag. A friendly against Real Madrid was always going to be a step too far, and they’ll have learned more from that 0-1 cup win at Hallescher, where they ground out the result rather than dazzled. The concern? Away from home, against a settled Augsburg side, Schalke’s new-look back line could be exposed. They’ve got talent, but cohesion takes time.

Momentum sits with the hosts. Augsburg have been building for months, their system is drilled, and they’re playing at home in front of a crowd that smells a statement win. Schalke, for all their ambition, are still stitching pieces together. This is the kind of fixture where the more organised side takes the points.