FCA win friendly against Hoffenheim 1-0

FC Augsburg played a friendly against league rivals TSG Hoffenheim at the WWK ARENA early on Saturday afternoon. The Fuggerstädter ran out 1-0 winners in front of 580 spectators thanks to a rapid start.

FCA head coach Jess Thorup sent out a strong starting eleven exactly a week before the resumption of the league season against leaders Bayer 04 Leverkusen (13th January, 15:30 CET). His side started the game in energetic fashion and went ahead in the 2nd minute. Fredrik Jensen beat TSG’s goalkeeper Oliver Baumann with a well-placed finish after being played in by Phillip Tietz. In the 27th minute, Tietz struck the crossbar with a fierce left-footed effort, whilst Finn Dahmen also had to make two first-half saves at the other end of the pitch (14’, 41’).

FCA TV: Das Testspiel gegen die TSG Hoffenheim im Relive

Lots of changes for both sides

Whilst FCA began the second half with the same eleven, the visitors made eight changes during the interval. Baumann then picked up a back pass in the 57th minute, but Tietz put the resulting indirect free-kick over the bar from 11 yards out. It was then time for FCA to make multiple substitutions, with Jess Thorup’s side switching to a back five. Substitutes Arne Maier, Nathanaël Mbuku and Mert Kӧmür then missed chances to make it 2-0 in the closing stages of the game (73’/76’/84’).

FCA: Dahmen – Mbabu (63’ Colina), Gouweleeuw (63’ Pfeiffer), Uduokhai (63’ Bauer), Gumny – Jensen (63’ Tanganga), Dorsch (63’ Breithaupt), Vargas (63’ Maier), Engels (63’ Kömür) – Demirović (63’ Mbuku), Tietz (63’ Michel)

Goal: 1-0 Jensen (2′)