Augsburg v AZ background
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Article summary
Augsburg won their first UEFA game at the third attempt when they met AZ last time out and will look to keep the momentum going in their Group L rematch.
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Article body
FC Augsburg will look to follow up their first European away win with their first continental home success as they meet AZ Alkmaar again in UEFA Europa League Group L.
Previous meetings
• After losing both of their opening Group L games 3-1, Augsburg triumphed 1-0 at AZ, Piotr Trochowski scoring their first European winning goal. It was Augsburg's first encounter with Dutch opponents.
• AZ's six games against German clubs have ended W1 D2 L3 (W0 D1 L2 in Germany).
Form guide
• Founded in 1907, Augsburg finished fifth in Germany last term, qualifying directly for the UEFA Europa League group stage as a result.
• AZ have scored twice in all three of their European away games this season – a 2-1 win and two 3-2 defeats.
• In seven previous campaigns in the UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League group stage, AZ have advanced to the knockout stage five times, most recently in 2013/14 when they got as far as the last eight.
Trivia and links
• The journey from Alkmaar to Augsburg is around 650km.
• Augsburg's Estonia defender Ragnar Klavan joined the club from AZ in 2012, having helped them win the Eredivisie title in 2008/09.
• Augsburg have a Dutch right-back in Paul Verhaegh, who represented PSV Eindhoven, FC Den Bosch and Vitesse before moving to Germany. Their Slovenia striker Tim Matavž has also played in the Eredivisie, for FC Groningen and PSV.
• Augsburg's Piotr Trochowski was an unused substitute when Sevilla FC beat SL Benfica in the 2014 UEFA Europa League final.
The coaches
• Augsburg coach Markus Weinzierl's playing career peaked when he spent a season with the first-team squad at FC Bayern München, though he never played a senior game. Augsburg appointed him in 2012 following a spell at SSV Jahn Regensburg and he has thrived in the role, last term's fifth-place finish a club best.
• AZ boss since 2014, John van den Brom spent the majority of his playing days as a midfielder at Vitesse. Capped twice, he went on to coach AFC Ajax's youth team, ADO Den Haag and Vitesse before heading to RSC Anderlecht and lifting the Belgian title in 2012/13.
