After returning to training recently, FC Augsburg played their only winter friendly on Monday (6th January). The team are currently preparing for their first game of the new year against VfB Stuttgart on Sunday, 12th January (17:30 CET). Jess Thorup’s side played two 60-minute games against fellow Bundesliga side TSG Hoffenheim. The first match was won 1-0 by FCA thanks to Elvis Rexhbecaj’s goal. The second match saw TSG come out on top, 3-0.

Elvis Rexhbecaj was able to put FCA in the lead just 11 minutes into the first clash between the sides at the Dietmar Hopp-Stadion in Hoffenheim. After his initial shot from the edge of the box was blocked, the Kosovo international was able to get his own rebound and finish it. The second chance of the afternoon also fell to FCA, as Maximilian Bauer won possession and laid the ball off to Samuel Essende. The striker then passed to his strike partner, Alexis Claude-Maurice, but Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann was able to make the save (24’). The shot-stopper was able to deny FCA another good opportunity shortly before full-time, as Essende attempted a shot from an angle (57’). At the other end, Finn Dahmen was able to pull off a strong save to deny a header from Adam Hlozek (27’). Chrislain Matsima also blocked a shot from Andrej Kramaric (35’), with Hoffenheim unable to generate more chances on the FCA goal.  

Several changes for the second 60 minutes

Thorup made several changes for the second match of the afternoon, with Bauer the only player to have also featured in the first clash, although he was taken off after 15 minutes. Fredrik Jensen came on in his place, as he made his comeback from injury. FCA got off to the better start, but were unable to find the back of the net in the opening moments. Steve Mounie had a shot saved (65’), before Henri Koudossou just missed the target (68’). Noahkai Banks then forced TSG goalkeeper Luca Philipp into a quick save to keep out his header (71’). Haris Tabakovic then put TSG ahead with their first shot on target (74’). The striker then notched his second of the game from the penalty spot in the 90th minute. Erencan Yardimci would net TSG’s third goal in the 100th minute. Mounie had a chance to get one back for FCA in between, but sent his effort just wide of the post (80’). Hoffenheim’s David Mokwa then hit the post late on, as the second match between the sides ended in a 3-0 defeat for FCA. 

First match line-up: Dahmen, Matsima, Gouweleeuw, Rexhbecaj, Essende, Wolf, Giannoulis, Jakic, Onyeka, Claude-Maurice, Bauer

1-0 Rexhbecaj (11’)

Second match line-up: Labrovic, Gumny, Maier, Mounie, Breithaupt, Tietz, Bauer (15’ Jensen), Kömür, Banks, Kücüksahin, Koudossou

1-1 Tabakovic (74’), 1-2 Tabakovic (90’), 1-3 Yardimci (100’)

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