FC Augsburg picked up their first win of the calendar year in their fourth game of the Rückrunde. A strong performance saw Markus Weinzierl’s side defeat 1. FC Union Berlin 2-0 at a sold out WWK ARENA.

The head coach made four changes to the side that were defeated 5-1 away to Bayer Leverkusen before the international break. Raphael Framberger, Iago, André Hahn and Florian Niederlechner came into the side, while Robert Gumny, Felix Uduokhai and Mads Pedersen were named on the bench. Ricardo Pepi was not in the squad, after only having returned from international duty a day prior to the game.

In a somewhat uncontrolled first half, the visitors had the first chance when Nico Gießelmann headed narrowly over the bar (5’). FCA later seized control of the game in front of 7,600 fans, constantly looking to attack with pace. Florian Niederlechner went close (9’, 11’) before the ball was in the Union net and FCA were ahead. Arne Maier intercepted a ball out from the back from Andreas Luthe to put Michael Gregoritsch free on goal to open the scoring from close range (16’). 

Weinzierl’s side had control of the game and could have gone into the break with a bigger lead. Christopher Trimmel cleared a shot off the line (25’), before Gregortisch was denied from doubling his tally when his strike hit the crossbar (40’). Union found their feet towards the end of the half, but didn’t pose much of a goal threat. Timo Baumgartl fired over the bar from close range (31’), while Gießelmann’s header landed on the roof of the net (44’).

Hahn superbly picks out the top corner from distance

Union controlled the start of the second half, and had chances through Genki Haraguchi, who didn’t quite connect with the ball properly from a decent position (51’). At the other end, Gregoritsch had a go from a tight angle at Luthe’s goal (57’), before the ex-FCA keeper was beaten again. André Hahn found himself in some space following a throw-in and sent a brilliant, swerving shot into the top corner from around 20 yards.

FCA continued to attack, and Maier came close a few minutes later (64’). Sven Michel shot from distance at Augsburg’s goal, but the effort went off target (65’). Apart from this effort, the home side did well to not allow their opponents too many chances, and former Union keeper Rafał Gikiewicz didn’t have much to do until the very end of the game, when he was required to be on hand to deny first Keita Endo (79’) and then Kevin Behrens (90+1’). FCA showed just why they deserved their lead as the match went on, however, and substitutes Andi Zeqiri (87’) and Noah Sarenren Bazee (88’) both had opportunities to score a third for Augsburg. 

FCA celebrated their first win of 2022 and their fifth of the season. Their next match is away to Borussia Mönhengladbach on Saturday, 12th February (15:30 CET).

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