FCA beat Köln 2-0 to extend unbeaten home run

FC Augsburg kicked off matchday 24 of the Bundesliga with a 2-0 home win over 1. FC Köln. The result saw the Fuggerstädter equal their club record, set in the 2011/12 season, of eight successive Bundesliga home games at the WWK ARENA without defeat.

Head coach Manuel Baum made one change from the previous weekend as Fabian Rieder returned to the starting line-up. Dimitris Giannoulis missed out due to Achilles tendon issues. Otherwise, it was the same eleven from the 3-2 victory in Wolfsburg.

Under the floodlights, and in pleasant temperatures, FCA started the match full of attacking intent. They took to the field in their new special-edition ‘Fuggers’ city’ shirt, while Friday’s game was also Ausgburg’s 500th Bundesliga match. Baum’s side were the livelier team in the first 30 minutes, and much of the game was being played in the Köln half.

Rodrigo Ribeiro was the first to threaten the visitors’ goal early on. In the fourth minute, he let fly from around 16 yards out, but his effort was too high. Not long after, Noahkai Banks headed wide from a corner (6’). Augsburg continued to push for the opener and played their way into the penalty area multiple times without managing to find the finishing touch. Köln were occasionally able to counterattack. The away side’s best opportunity came from a set piece. In the 38th minute, Eric Martel headed a corner kick against the bar.

A sensational opener

It remained a hard-fought encounter after the break. Soon after the restart, Kristoffer Lund tested FCA goalkeeper Finn Dahmen with a header (48’). Meanwhile, Kristijan Jakić had to leave the field due to injury. He was replaced by Yannik Keitel (49’). Then, the Fuggerstädter struck. Banks sprinted to the byline and played an excellent low pass into the middle, where Rodrigo Ribeiro backheeled the ball into the net (55’). The game opened up even more after that. Köln upped the pressure, but FCA remained a threat themselves – particularly through the almost unstoppable Alexis Claude-Maurice, who constantly looked to advance into the area and unleash efforts on goal.

Augsburg made several substitutions and fiercely defended their lead. The final few minutes of injury time were certainly eventful. First, Keven Schlotterbeck cleared off the line before almost turning the ball into his own net, but Dahmen made the save. Then, FCA cleared another ball into the box and Claude-Maurice countered quickly. He sprinted towards the empty net and made it 2-0 with a shot almost from the halfway line. This wrapped up the victory for Augsburg.

FCA now have 31 points on the board and have momentum on their side going into next week’s trip to Leipzig on Saturday, 7th March (15:30 CET).

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