FCA secure Bundesliga status

FC Augsburg are staying up! A goalless draw at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim means the Swabians have secured Bundesliga football for next season. FCA head coach Manuel Baum put his faith in the same starting XI that drew 1-1 at home to Borussia Dortmund last weekend. The hosts set the tone right from the kick-off. Andreas Luthe was called into action as early as the second minute, comfortably keeping out Sandro Wagner's effort. Konstantinos Stafylidis then found himself up the other end and crossed in a fine ball to find Halil Altintop but Steven Zuber was there to deflect it wide for a corner. Augsburg decided to take the initiative going forward and Stafylidis tried his luck from distance just a few minutes later but saw his effort fly over the bar. FCA built on their momentum as the half went on and Kohr sent a cross into the middle, finding the feet of Philipp Max who had a great chance to get a shot on goal but saw his strike blocked. FCA struggled with their final ball but regularly found themselves in threatening positions in and around the Hoffenheim penalty area. The teams went into the dressing rooms at half-time goalless after a solid tactically savvy opening 45 minutes from Baum's men. Augsburg started the second half as they had finished the first, trying to mount more pressure on TSG and former Hoffenheimer Jonathan Schmid could have struck against his former employers but Baumann comfortably saved. Halil Altintop also had a great chance to test the Hoffenheim keeper but the Turk waited too long and Vogt put in the challenge needed. Hoffenheim finally started to find their feet but their dominance was only kept at bay by some strong defending and some excellent goalkeeping from Andreas Luthe. Indeed the FCA goalkeeper had to get down low to make keep his clean sheet intact after a powerful effort from Demirbay. Things did get a little tense for the away side. Nagelsmann's men came agonisingly close to scoring in the 69th minute when Andrej Kramaric's neat footwork gave him the space to shoot but it clattered off the post. And the home side hit the woodwork again with just ten minutes to play, this time Amiri holding his head in his hands in disbelief that he had not found the back of the net. The final stages of the game were shaped by some intense defending from Augsburg as they were forced to retreat back into their own half. It looked as though Hoffenheim had finally made the breakthrough with a looping header over a beaten Andreas Luthe. But Martin Hinteregger had other ideas, getting back superbly to head off the line to ensure that FCA would leave with a point. It finished 0-0 to spark celebrations from fans and players with the knowledge that Augsburg will be back playing Bundesliga football next season!