1. FC Union Berlin ruined their guest appearance at FC Augsburg after a blackout. Both teams played on equal terms for a long time – but then a major bad pass happened. The Bavarian Swabians won 2-0 (0-0) on Friday (April 12, 2024).
The unlucky man was Diogo Leite, who unnecessarily pushed the ball into the feet of Augsburg’s striker Phillip Tietz on the Berliners’ left side of the defense. Tietz took the measure from a thirteen-meter central position and was a bit lucky when his shot was deflected by Union keeper Frederik Rönnow, but could no longer be decisively deflected (47th). Sven Michel increased against his former club (82.)
“We had to play with a lot of patience”said FCA coach Jess Thorup to ARD, “I said that the chances would come. I’m happy that we got the three points.” With this success, the FCA stays in the first third of the table, which would mean the right to play in Europe. If the as-good-as-champions Bayer Leverkusen also win the DFB Cup, Augsburg’s current seventh place will also be enough for the Europa Conference League playoffs.
Rene Kirsch, Sportschau, April 12, 2024 11:04 p.m
Currently 13th, Union is still only six points away from the relegation place (As of: Friday, April 12, 2024). “We are in a relegation battle”said Union coach Nenad Bjelica after the game to the sports show, “At 0-1 an individual mistake happens, and at 0-2 there is also a mistake. We really gave everything away today.”
Rene Kirsch, Sportschau, April 12, 2024 10:54 p.m
Augsburg weak and passive
The guests from the capital gained more of the game right from the start. Augsburg didn’t get any access and at the end of the unentertaining first half went into the locker room with an extremely low goal probability of 2% (0.02 xGoals).
Jess Thorup’s team didn’t really improve in the second half of the game either – but Augsburg probably didn’t care. Because when Leite didn’t hit the ball correctly when attempting a cross pass in his own half, Tietz “executed” it coldly. “You’re obviously hungry to score a goal in front of your home crowd”said the goalscorer to the sports show after the game, “I feel sorry for him too (Diogo Leite, editor)but of course I already speculated.”
Rene Kirsch, Sportschau, April 12, 2024 11:00 p.m
Berlin defends itself – but without Penetration power
Jeffrey Gouweleeuw (64th) and Sven Michel and Arne Maier initially missed the increase when attempting a follow-up shot, but then the ex-Union player Michel took advantage of his shot chance from eleven meters on the left – and refrained from celebrating the goal with his hands raised. The striker moved from Berlin-Köpenick to Augsburg at the start of the season.
In the final phase, the guests once again threw everything forward, but Alex Král and Brenden Aaronson failed. On the other side, Rönnow made a strong save against Ermedin Demirović in stoppage time.
Augsburg now in Frankfurt, Union at home against Bayern
On the 30th matchday, Augsburg has to play on Fridays again. The Fuggerstädter will then be guests at Eintracht Frankfurt (19.04.24, 8.30 p.m.). Union hosts Bayern Munich the next day (04/20/24, 6:30 p.m.).