The difference in quality should be decisive: prediction for Energie Cottbus vs Augsburg
Energie Cottbus
The first round match of the German Cup between Energie Cottbus and Augsburg will take place on August 22, 2026 at the LEAG Energie Stadium in Cottbus. The home side have already played two matches in the 2. Bundesliga, while this will be the visitors' first official outing of the season.
Energie Cottbus: a historic promotion and a tough start
After many years spent in the third and fourth divisions, Energie finally returned to the 2. Bundesliga thanks to their second-place finish in the 3. Liga. Claus-Dieter Wollitz's team kicked off the season with a resounding 3-1 victory over Hannover, but then suffered a heavy 0-3 defeat against Arminia.
In the German Cup, their record is far less impressive: in eight of the last nine seasons, Energie have been knocked out in the first round. However, playing at home against a Bundesliga side, the club will certainly want to give it everything they've got - with nothing to lose.
Augsburg: Baum aims to build on last season's momentum
Last season, Augsburg finished ninth after a very challenging start to the campaign. The arrival of Manuel Baum gave the team a real boost, as they went on to win eight of their final 16 Bundesliga matches.
The squad was refreshed over the summer, giving the coach more attacking options. Michael Gregoritsch scored six goals in 17 appearances during the second half of last season, but now faces competition from Rodrigo Ribeiro and Steve Mounié.
Key facts
- Energie Cottbus have been eliminated in the first round of the German Cup in eight of the last nine seasons.
- The hosts have already played two official matches this season: one 3-1 win and one 0-3 loss.
- Augsburg finished last season with eight wins in their final 16 Bundesliga games.
The favorite must deliver: prediction for Energie Cottbus vs Augsburg
Energie are already up to speed competitively and, playing at home, could keep things interesting for a while. However, the gap in individual quality and squad depth seems simply too wide here.
Augsburg come into the season off the back of a full preseason and boast a much stronger attack. If the visitors stay focused, they should book their ticket to the next round without much trouble.
