FCA draw against Hertha

FC Augsburg battled to hold Hertha BSC Berlin to a draw at home, with the match ending goalless. FCA head coach Dirk Schuster made one change to the side that beat Ingolstadt away two weeks ago as Halil Altintop came into the starting XI in place of Ja-Cheol Koo, who picked up a calf injury whilst on international duty. The match represented a return to the green Augsburg grass for former players Alexander Esswein and Sebastian Langkamp, while on the other hand Christoph Janker and Gojko Kacar were also facing their previous clubs. Hertha were keen to attack from the start and had an early opportunity to take the lead through a fierce cross from Alex Esswein, but Marwin Hitz was able to keep it out with his fingertips. Esswein then tried his luck from the edge of the box in the 13th minute but his effort drifted wide of the post. Augsburg allowed Berlin to take the game to them during the opening stages of the match but still managed to cause some problems in the Hertha box from time to time. Both teams put in a concentrated performance in defence as chances were few and far between for either side. FCA had their biggest chance to take the lead in the 29th minute. Augsburg quickly launched a counterattack after Berlin lost the ball. Daniel Baier played it to Philipp Max on the left wing who found the feet of Martin Hinteregger in the Hertha penalty area just metres away from Hertha keeper Rune Jarstein, but the Austrian could not convert. Both sides went into the dressing rooms with the score 0-0 at half time. The start of the second half was very end-to-end as both teams sought to build on their first-half performances. Konstantinos Stafylidis connected with a corner in the 58th minute but his shot was too high. Daniel Baier then curled an effort towards goal from twenty metres out three minutes later but it went straight into the hands of Jarstein. At the other end, Hitz had to make himself big to keep out a shot from Valentin Stocker and the Swiss man had to spring into action once again against his fellow countryman nine minutes later. Hertha increased the pressure on the Fuggerstädter in the final minutes of the match but they were unable to create any meaningful chances. Yet Augsburg still looked dangerous and in the 83rd minute, Dong-Won Ji directed a fine header towards the Hertha goal after a cross from Paul Verhaegh, but it went straight at the keeper. Both teams had to settle for a draw as it finished goalless in what was probably a fair result.