Narrow 3-2 defeat in Leipzig

Maier and Vargas on the scoresheet

Despite taking the lead early on, FC Augsburg were beaten 3-2 away to RB Leipzig on Saturday afternoon.

FCA head coach Enrico Maaßen made three changes to the team that lost 3-1 at home to 1. FC Köln last time out. Tomáš Koubek replaced the injured Rafał Gikiewicz in goal and Mads Pedersen returned from suspension. Felix Uduokhai made his comeback from injury to start alongside Maximilian Bauer and Jeffrey Gouweleeuw in defence.

Leipzig had the first chance of the game, with Dominik Szoboszlai forcing Koubek into a save from a tight angle after just two minutes. Just a few minutes later though, FCA threatened for the first time and took the lead. Iago made use of the space down the left wing and crossed for Arne Maier. He took the shot first time and emphatically struck the ball past Blaswich to make it 1-0 (5’). It was the 24-year-old’s fourth goal already in 2023.

Leipzig responded quickly to going behind and soon found an equaliser. Timo Werner sprinted down the right and crossed for Kevin Kampl. He bundled the ball past Koubek from close range to level the score (10’). Leipzig controlled the game after this goal and FCA were fighting hard to stay in it. With around an hour played, the hosts took the lead through Werner, who converted Henrich’s cross (32’). Only three minutes after that, the Germany international got his second of the afternoon, brilliantly volleying past Koubek for 3-1.

Late goal not enough for a point

Augsburg tried all they could in the second half to turn the game around, with the first opportunity from Iago’s cross from a dangerous position blocked. Gvardiol had a chance in the 60th minute for the home team, but Koubek was comfortable in saving it. A minute later, Maaßen introduced Ruben Vargas and Irvin Cardona to freshen things up in attack. Both substitutes then missed decent opportunities, Cardona in the 65th minute and Vargas in the 67th. Gouweleeuw, playing his 200th competitive game for FCA, was shown his 10th yellow card of the season in the second half and will therefore miss the next game against Stuttgart.

The Fuggerstädter’s hopes of rescuing something from the game increased in the 82nd minute. The ball fell to Ruben Vargas in the box and he buried a low shot past Blaswich to make it 3-2. FCA pushed for an equaliser and came close to getting it, but Pedersen’s shot was blocked and it ended 3-2.

Gallery: 20230415-BiGa-Leipzig-FCA

FC Augsburg remain on 29 points in 14th place. Next up is a home game against VfB Stuttgart on Friday, 21st April at the WWK ARENA (20:30 CEST).