Head coach Peter Bosz made six changes to his starting eleven compared with the side that lost 4-3 at Young Boys Bern in the Europa league. The Dutchman also made changes to the back four with Sven Bender returning from injury to make his first start in 2021. Moussa Diaby started instead of Demarai Gray on the wing. The skipper Charles Aránguiz replaced Nadiem Amiri in central midfield and he was not in the squad. The 24-year-old is not yet fully fit after an infection.
With Germany coach Joachim Löw looking on, the visitors from Leverkusen started with their possession-based game as usual at the WWK Arena. Leading the way were Florian Wirtz and Kerem Demirbay in attacking midfield as they endeavoured to find a way through with their passes but an Augsburg leg got in the way most the time. After a lively start to the game, it was all the more surprising that the Werkself went a goal down early in proceedings: After five minutes, Leon Bailey played a back pass to Niklas Lomb. The 27-year-old failed to connect in his attempt to clear the ball. FCA striker Florian Niederlechner was ready to pounce and he was left with an easy shot into an open goal.
Charles Aránguiz and Co. refused to be deterred in continuing their approach the game. The only problem in the clash on Sunday afternoon: The already defensively minded Augsburg team dropped even further back leaving little space for Patrik Schick and Co. The Werkself spent most of the time in the opposition half, which left Augsburg space to counter-attack – as on 27 minutes. Goalscorer Niederlechner beat Sven Bender but his shot from distance went over the bar. The potential goal may probably have been ruled out as the FCA striker seemed to foul Sven Bender during the move. There was little action in either penalty area after that. The best chance for Bayer 04 fell to Schick who was preferred at centre forward to Lucas Alario. The Czech Republic international was put off his shot from the edge of the box (41'). Shortly after that, it was half-time in Augsburg and, as in Thursday's game at Young Boys, the Werkself went into half-time a goal behind.
After the restart, Diaby had the best effort to date for the visitors: The Frenchman broke into the box from the left and unleashed a shot. But Augsburg's first choice keeper Rafal Gikiewicz was able to make the save (48'). The Werkself were slowly warming up in the spring like temperatures in Bavarian Swabia. Gikiewicz again had to get down to a low cross from Diaby and the rebound off the Pole ended up at the feet of a player in a white shirt rather than a red one. Unlucky.
And the match carried on in the same hectic manner: Referee Christian Dingert surprisingly pointed to the penalty spot. Timothy Fosu-Mensah was adjudged to have fouled Niederlechner in the box. VAR intervened and a free kick was awarded for an Augsburg player being offside in the build-up.
During the second half, Bosz decided to go all out in attack, bringing on Alario and Jeremie Frimpong (58’), and later Gray (74’) as well. Winter signing Frimpong made an impression on the right wing with pace and great commitment. But the 20-year-old Dutchman was unable to provide the equaliser. That role on the afternoon fell to Edmond Tapsoba, as he turned a low cross from Gray into the net from a few yards out for the late leveller just before the final whistle (90+4').
After the matches in Bern and Augsburg, the Werkself now have two games at the BayArena. First, Young Boys are the visitors for the second leg of the Europa League Round of 32 on Thursday 25 February (kick-off: 21.00 CET). Then SC Freiburg provide the opposition on Sunday 28 February (kick-off: 18.00 CET).
Match stats:
FC Augsburg: Gikiewicz – Framberger (Gumny 72'), Gouweleeuw, Uduokhai, Pedersen – Strobl, R. Khedira – Caligiuri (Richter 79'), Bénes (Moravek 72'), Vargas (Hahn 66') – Niederlechner (Oxford 79’)
Bayer 04: Lomb – Fosu-Mensah, S. Bender (Gray 74’), Tapsoba, Wendell – Wirtz (Frimpong 58’), Aránguiz, Demirbay – Bailey (Alario 58’), Schick, Diaby
Goals: 1-0 Niederlechner (5’), 1-1 Tapsoba (90+4’)
Booked: Bénes, Niederlechner – Tapsoba, Aránguiz, Diaby, Fosu-Mensah
Referee: Christian Dingert (Lebecksmühle)
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