Ahead of FC Augsburg’s meeting with Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the WWK Arena on Sunday, Heiko Herrlich used the time to play a friendly match against Würzburger Kickers on Monday. Augsburg were able to turn the match around after an early setback, with Ruben Vargas und Noah Sarenren Bazee scoring the goals for the home team.

13 players from the FCA academy were in the squad for the friendly against the second-division side. Tim Civeja and David Deger started among others. Most of the players who had been on the pitch in Leipzig on Friday were rested by head coach Heiko Herrlich. Alongside the youngsters, the team was made up of other players who have been sidelined or lacking playing time recently. In goal for Würzburg was former FCA ‘keeper Fabian Giefer, who joined Kickers last summer.

Augsburg took a little time to settle into the match. In the second minute of the game, the referee Michael Bacher pointed to the spot after a foul in the box. Rani Khedira, who led the Fuggerstädter out as captain, hacked at Dominic Baumann and the penalty was rightly given. Würzburg’s Christofer David gave Tomáš Koubek no chance and put Kickers 1-0 to the good.

With the early goal in the bag, the visitors started to show more courage on the front foot. Augsburg tried to break up the play early and created the first big chance of their own in the 15th minute. After some nice link up play, Marco Richter rushed his finish and missed the target.

Vargas and Sarenren Bazee score

Only four minutes later, Augsburg were on the attack again. After receiving a pass from Richter, Ruben Vargas carried the ball forwards and placed his shot well into the bottom left corner to draw his side level (19’). From that point on, FCA began to enjoy more and more control over proceedings. In the 33rd minute, Noah Sarenren Bazee was the man on the end of the chance. Richter hit a wonderful strike against the bar and Sarenren Bazee was there to convert the rebound and give Augsburg the lead. The score remained at 2-1 going into half-time.

After the break, play went quickly back and forth but without any real goal threat at either end. Herrlich made a few changes, bringing on more young legs from the academy. In the 70th minute, Richter switched the play quickly from one side to the other before Sarenren Bazee drove into the six-yard box. His square ball came to Würzburg’s Douglas, who tried to clear for a corner but was unlucky to send the ball into his own net and extend the lead to 3-1. 

As the match wore on, it became a more physical affair and was marked by lots of small interruptions. Augsburg ran through on goal again but couldn’t make the chance count while Kickers were unable to trouble shot-stopper Koubek as the clock wound down.

The full-time whistle went to conclude a solid 3-1 win for the Fuggerstädter. FCA will now face Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the Bundesliga on Sunday (21st February, 13.30 CET.

FCA: Koubek – Framberger (65’ Taseski), Khedira, Suchý (65’ Schuster) – Deger (46’ Koudelka), Morávek (65’ Salifou), Civeja, Sarenren Bazee (88’ Petkov) – Richter, Gregoritsch (65’ Ivanovic), Vargas

Goals: 0-1 David (2’), 1-1 Vargas (19’), 2-1 Sarenren Bazee (33’), 3-1 Douglas (own goal, 70’)

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