FCA beaten 3-0 away at Hoffenheim

FC Augsburg were unable to take anything from their trip to TSG Hoffenheim on matchday 12, slipping to a 3-0 defeat with all three goals coming in the first half.

Head coach Sandro Wagner made two changes to the side that beat HSV 1-0 last weekend. With Keven Schlotterbeck suspended, Cédric Zesiger returned to the starting XI, while Samuel Essende also came in.

FCA created the game’s first opening inside six minutes: Dimitris Giannoulis whipped a dangerous ball across the six-yard box from the left, but Essende was beaten to it by Oliver Baumann.

As the tempo increased, Hoffenheim began to take control – and the hosts made the breakthrough in the 16th minute. A long pass from Wouter Burger released Tim Lemperle, who squared for Bazoumana Touré to finish inside the near post. Augsburg looked to steady themselves but struggled to relieve the pressure, and ten minutes later the TSG doubled their lead: Grischa Prömel was initially denied by Finn Dahmen, but Burger reacted quickest to turn in the rebound from close range (26’).

Wagner’s side defended with commitment but found it difficult to create moments of their own. Their best chance before the interval came in the 41st minute, when Chrislain Matsima’s long ball sent Essende through, only for Baumann to race out and clear. The loose ball fell to Giannoulis, whose effort from 20 metres flew well over.

Zesiger unlucky, Essende goal ruled out

Augsburg’s fortunes worsened just before half-time. After a cross from the right, the ball ricocheted off Zesiger following a tussle between Banks and Prömel, wrong-footing Dahmen and finding the net for 3-0 (45’).

Wagner reacted with a double change at the break, introducing Elvis Rexhbecaj and Kristijan Jakić for Mert Kömür and Han-Noah Massengo. FCA began the half with more of the ball and looked to gain a foothold in Hoffenheim’s half, but clear chances remained in short supply.

The game increasingly settled into a midfield battle, with both sides engaged in numerous challenges. Augsburg did have the ball in the net late on: Essende struck brilliantly into the top-right corner after a clever pass from Marius Wolf, but the goal was ruled out for offside against Phillip Tietz in the build-up (84’). With no further breakthroughs, the second half remained goalless and FCA left Sinsheim empty-handed.

Augsburg return to action next weekend with a home match against Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the WWK ARENA (Saturday, 6th December, 15:30 CET).

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