Late equaliser gives FCA deserved point at FC Bayern München

FC Augsburg have secured a deserved point in tonight’s Bavarian derby away at FC Bayern München. FCA fell behind in the early stages of the second half as Arjen Robben gave the hosts the lead (48’). However, Felix Götze equalised in the 86th minute against his former club to give FCA a deserved 1-1 draw. FCA head coach Manuel Baum made three changes for the match away at the Bundesliga leaders, with Andreas Luthe starting in goal. Luthe hadn’t started a Bundesliga match this season and had missed Saturday’s 3-2 home defeat to Werder Bremen through injury. Caiuby replaced Marco Richter on the left wing while Jan Moravek started for the first time this season in place of the injured Ja-Cheol Koo. FCA started the Bavarian derby on the front foot, putting the hosts under pressure and creating some early chances. Michael Gregoritsch sent Caiuby, on his 100th Bundesliga appearance, clear in the 6th minute but the Brazilian was only able to fire his shot straight at Bayern goalkeeper from the edge of the penalty box. Gregortisch was available in space but Caiuby wasn’t able to find him. Immediately, at the other end of the pitch, Bayern striker Thomas Müller hit the outside of the FCA post with a low drive (7’). Bayern then started to gain the upper hand in the match. In the 12th minute, FCA lost possession of the ball and Renato Sanches stole it in midfield before charging towards the Augsburg goal. However, his shot from 18 metres out went narrowly wide to the left of the goal. Augsburg refused to let Bayern dictate the play of the game and consequently, there were few big chances in the remainder of the first half. Most of the play was contained in midfield. In the 35th minute, Sanches won the second ball and tested Luthe for the first time in the match, the FCA keeper making a smart save. Shortly before this opportunity, Sandro Wagner fired a header over the bar from a Joshua Kimmich cross (33’). Bayern then started to become more of a threat in front of goal and were looking dangerous in the closing stages of the first half. Luthe denied Wagner a chance from a header (41’) before he pulled off a superb one-on-one save to deny the striker. Luthe was then able to save a Serge Gnabry round the far post (44’). At half-time, the score was goalless with FCA surviving the late flurry of Bayern chances. However, Bayern took their first chance of the second half having been the better side towards the end of the first half. In the 48th minute, Serge Gnabry burst clear  of the Augsburg defence before Arjen Robben was able to fire the ball past Luthe and the FCA defenders rushing back to deny the Dutchman. Just a couple of minutes later, Bayern had a chance to double their lead through Sanches but Luthe was able to deny the Portuguese midfielder (50’). Former Bayern youth player Götze equalises late on It took FCA a while to recover from falling behind and the side eventually got back into the game. Despite the deficit and Bayern’s dominance, FCA continued to press forward although the hosts created two more good opportunities to score. Luthe saved a powerful free-kick from David Alaba in the 74th minute to keep his side in the game before FCA went in search of a late winner. A spirited and determined performance from the team was rewarded in the 86th minute as Felix Götze, in just his 2nd Bundesliga appearance and facing his former club, was able to poke the ball home from a metre out after a corner. In the closing minutes, FCA gave everything they had to protect their lead and will return home with deserved point for their efforts.