January: No time for recovery
Year in review 2022, part one
Club
19.12.2022, 09:07
An emotional 12 months full of highs and lows are drawing to a close. As we enter the last few weeks of the year, FC Augsburg are looking back on the last 365 days. In the first part of our series, we look at January.
After a strong end to the year in December 2021, FCA went into the winter break in 15th place with 12 points from eight games. However, the Red-Green-Whites didn't have long off, as they headed to Sinsheim on 8th January to start the New Year.
Before that, though, FCA were active on the transfer market, signing Ricardo Pepi, as the Fuggerstädter fended off international interest to bring in the American talent from Dallas to Augsburg. The then 18-year-old striker, already named MLS Young Player of the Year, signed a long-term contract until the end of June 2026 with the option to extend for a year.
Pepi made his debut for Augsburg in the first game of 2022, unfortunately behind closed doors due to infection rates. At TSG Hoffenheim, he was substituted on just after around 60 minutes, but was unable to make much impact on a 3-1 loss.
Gregoritsch scores again, Hahn celebrates landmark appearance
In the first home match of 2022, Eintracht Frankfurt visited the WWK ARENA. While Ricardo Pepi started for the first time, Alfred Finnbogason was back in the matchday squad after an injury. Having already scored against Hoffenheim, Michael Gregoritsch grabbed an important goal to rescue a point for the Red-Green-Whites with his equaliser to make it 1-1.
The following matchday saw FCA travel to Bayer Leverkusen. Even though Arne Maier got one back, opening his account in the Bundesliga, it was an afternoon to forget for the Fuggerstädter, who ultimately suffered a 5-1 defeat. On a more positive note, the game saw the return of André Hahn, who celebrated his 150th competitive appearance for the Red-Green-Whites.
Afterwards, the Bundesliga paused for the first international break of the year, with Carlos Gruezo (Ecuador) and Ricardo Pepi (USA) selected from FCA to represent their nations.
