It was very emotional. It was also very hectic. In the end, FC Augsburg and VfL Wolfsburg split with a draw. There is still a lot to talk about.
In the hectic summit against coach Niko Kovac and VfL Wolfsburg, FC Augsburg missed their fourth Bundesliga win in a row.
In a heated and nervous game with pack formation and fisticuffs, coach Enrico Maassen’s team won a valuable point at 1:1 (0:1). The Augsburgers still have to wait for the setting of their Bundesliga record from the end of 2014 with four three-pointers in a row.
In a nervous duel with many defensive mistakes and interruptions, Yannick Gerhardt (27th minute) gave Wolfsburg the lead in front of 26,220 spectators. A short power play after the change was completed by Robert Gumny (55th) for Augsburg, who had to do without goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz, who was so strong last time, due to a thigh injury. Replacement Tomas Koubek did his job just as well as Koen Casteels at VfL.
At first Augsburg really wanted to play this game – and put the error-prone Wolfsburg under constant pressure. A co-production by Paulo Otavio and goalkeeper Casteels saved VfL from falling behind early on. A combination of Fredrik Jensen and Ruben Vargas, who started in place of André Hahn (knee) and Mergim Berisha (suspension), put Ermedin Demirovic (13′) in the best shooting position. But Demirovic didn’t put enough pressure behind the ball from four yards out, Otavio’s foot and especially Casteel’s right hand prevented the 0-1.
Niko Kovac first took off his parka. His Wolfsburg were then more secure and offered the Augsburgers hardly any space to get started. A sharp in-depth pass from Jakub Kaminski to Ridle Baku exposed the home side’s defence. Baku delayed in front of the goal line and passed the ball to the onrushing Gerhardt, who could almost walk the ball into the goal.
After a pack of fisticuffs, referee Daniel Siebert handed out five yellow cards shortly before half-time: a total of three against Augsburg’s Jeffrey Gouweleeuw and Carlos Gruezo and Wolfsburg’s Paulo Otavio, and one against the bench for both teams. Football was hardly played in this phase.
Shortly after the restart, Koubek excelled. Baku crossed to Felix Nmecha with pinpoint accuracy, but the Czech goalkeeper (49′) quickly blocked his header from six meters off the line. Gikiewicz, who has been missing a Bundesliga game for Augsburg for the first time since his move in the summer of 2020, also applauded in the stands.
After Gumny’s equalizer, Casteels (63′) threw himself twice successfully into shots from Augsburg’s captain Gouweleeuw. Iago (66th) then only moved a few centimeters. The encounter later slowed down, but goalkeeper Koubek remained alert until the end against Maximilian Arnold (88th).
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
