0-0 draw against Bremen

FC Augsburg played out a 0-0 draw at home against SV Werder Bremen in their final match of the year. The hosts were unable to make their dominance count and once again had a goal disallowed.

Head coach Manuel Baum made two changes to his starting line-up, as Anton Kade (ankle) was replaced by Marius Wolf. Cédric Zesiger also came into the side in place of the suspended Chrislain Matsima. Academy players Tim Schnitzer and Oliver Sorg were included in their first Bundesliga matchday squad. FCA were without Samuel Essende, Elias Saad and Ismaël Gharbi, with the trio all away at the Africa Cup of Nations. 

The opening minutes in Augsburg hinted at what was to come: a hard-fought match featuring plenty of tackles and tactical discipline. FCA were able to test Werder goalkeeper Mio Backhaus early on, with Alexis Claude-Maurice attempting a long-range shot (9'), before Wolf was also denied by the shot-stopper (10'). Chances remained few and far between at both ends, however, with Werder unable to find a way through. The two sides headed into the half-time break still deadlocked. 

The match continued on in much the same fashion after the restart, although the visitors were able to put FCA under more pressure. Baum's side absorbed it well, before going on to carve out some more good chances. Claude-Maurice's shot was initially caught, then dropped, by Backhaus as Kristijan Jakić saw his shot then blocked on the rebound (52'). 

FCA held at home

As time went on, FCA began to assume more control over proceedings. Han-Noah Massengo's header only just missed the target (60'), while Elvis Rexhbecaj was unlucky to see his effort from range only rattle the post (76'). Claude-Maurice was able to beat Backhaus with a powerful shot in the 80th minute, only for the goal to be disallowed by the referee due to a foul just before. The decision was reviewed by the VAR and the on-field call was allowed to stand. 

FCA threw everything they had into attack in the closing minutes, keeping Werder effectively pinned back inside their own half. Aiman Dardari was able to get off a shot following his introduction, but also saw it saved (88'). 

The woodwork then intervened once again in injury time, this time denying Phillip Tietz an almost certain winner. In the end, Augsburg were able to earn a hard-fought point at home against Werder, in addition to keeping a clean sheet in their final game before the winter break. 

FCA will resume training in early January ahead of their final two matches in the first half of the season. Their first league game in the new year will be away at Borussia Mönchengladbach on Sunday, 11th January (15:30 CET). 

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