FCA suffer 4-0 defeat in Mönchengladbach

A heavy loss to start 2026: FC Augsburg were defeated 4-0 away at Borussia Mönchengladbach.

For their first game back after the winter break, FC Augsburg had to line up without Chrislain Matsima (tendon tear in left thigh), Dimitris Giannoulis (suspended) and Elvis Rexhbecaj (personal reasons). Mads Pedersen was selected to start on the left flank, while new signing Michael Gregoritsch began the game on the bench.

FCA had come out on top in the last three encounters with Gladbach and hoped for a strong start to their first game of 2026 in the Rhineland. At a frosty BORUSSIA-PARK, that plan came undone within eight minutes, as Gladbach took an early lead through Joe Scally. Following a low drilled ball across the area, Pedersen made the initial save, but the USA international managed to turn in the rebound from close range.

FCA started to grow more into the game following the opener and were able to create chances of their own, particularly through long-range efforts. In the 19th minute, however, referee Harm Osmers pointed to the spot after a handball in the Augsburg penalty area. Kevin Diks strode up to take the spot kick and converted to make it 2-0 to the hosts. Head coach Manuel Baum’s side tried in vain to find the answer to two early Gladbach goals: Alexis Claude-Maurice missed the target in the 24th minute, while Anton Kade and Fabian Rieder failed to get anything on a promising cross from the Frenchman just five minutes later (29’). It was Gladbach who managed to make their next opportunity count: a corner delivery was sent into a busy box, and Haris Tabaković was able to dominate the crowd of red and white shirts to head home Borussia’s third. VAR checked the goal, but ultimately nothing was deemed feasible to stop the goal from standing (36’).

Relive: Borussia Mönchengladbach - FC Augsburg

Gladbach ruthless once again

Augsburg came out of the dressing room with what seemed like a new lease of life for the second half. Half-time substitute Samuel Essende threatened to get one back on 51 minutes, but Moritz Nicolas was on hand to parry the close-range effort. FCA had already knocked on Borussia’s door twice by this point, with Anton Kade’s shot in the box blocked by a defender before Robin Fellhauer drilled a strike from range straight at the keeper. While the visitors were unable to find that cutting edge going forward, Gladbach proved ruthless in front of goal once again just after an hour of play. Franck Honorat lifted a dipping delivery straight into the path of Tabaković, who headed home for his second and Gladbach’s fourth of the night (61’).

Tabaković came close to adding another ten minutes later, although Finn Dahmen came out on top in the one-on-one to deny the centre forward his hat-trick. By this time, the game was out of sight for FCA. Michael Gregoritsch came on in the closing stages of the game, his first appearance for Augsburg since leaving the club in May 2022. His strike partner, Samuel Essende, had Augsburg’s final chance of the game in the 89th minute, with a consolation goal from range denied only by the crossbar.

Augsburg will be back in action as soon as Thursday, 15th January, as 1. FC Union Berlin travel down to the WWK ARENA for a 20:30 CET kick-off, before Manuel Baum’s boys welcome SC Freiburg next Sunday, 18th January, with the ball set to roll at 17:30 CET.

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