FC Augsburg took on fellow Bundesliga side FC Schalke 04 to finish off the training camp in Austria. The game in Mittersill ended 1-1 with few chances for both sides.

Head coach Enrico Maaßen named Ermedin Demirović in the starting XI for the first time. He played as a centre forward, with André Hahn and Fredrik Jensen on either side of him. Daniel Caligiuri started against his former club and was given a round of applause by the Schalke fans.

With just two weeks until competitive football starts for both sides, it was a physical and intense game. The newly-promoted team from Gelsenkirchen started better and had early chances through Polter (2’), who headed wide, and Zalazar (4’), who had his shot cleared off the line by Felix Uduokhai.

Hahn had FCA’s best chance in the first half when he was clean through after a pass from Demirović. His shot went through goalkeeper Schwolow’s legs and hit the outside of the post (17’). Demirović then came close to grabbing his first goal for Augsburg, but his lob missed the target (35’). At the other end, Ozan Kabak’s header (38’) and Simon Terodde’s shot (41’) both didn’t trouble Gikiewicz’s goal.

Polter cancels out Uduokhai’s goal

The deadlock was soon broken in the second half and it came from a slightly unlikely source. Caligiuri’s corner fell to Uduokhai via Maurice Malone’s thigh and the defender then leathered the ball into the corner on his left foot (53’). Schalke looked to find a reply and almost got a goal three minutes later. Maya Yoshida was inches away from connecting with Zalazar’s dangerous free-kick at the back post. S04 did then equalise in the 78th minute. A sublime ball in behind the defence from Amine Harit found Henning Matriciani and he squared it across the six-yard box for Polter to score from a few yards out.

Despite late chances for Malone (85’) and Harit (88’) – the latter was denied by substitute goalkeeper Tomáš Koubek – it ended 1-1 between the Bundesliga sides. This was Augsburg’s second draw of pre-season, having also been held to a 1-1 draw by second-division outfit Sandhausen.

FCA’s training camp in Scheffau will end on Monday. The next friendly is on Saturday, 23rd July (15:30 CEST) against French side Stade Rennais at the WWK Arena.

FCA: Gikiewicz (46’ Koubek) – Gumny (82’ Framberger), Gouweleeuw (82’ Bauer), Uduokhai (82’ Winther) – Caligiuri (58’ Pedersen), Gruezo, Maier (46’ Malone), Iago (82’ Zehnter) – Hahn (46’ Pepi), Demirović (58’ Niederlechner), Jensen (82’ Götze)

Goals: 0-1 Uduokhai (53’), 1-1 Polter (78’)

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