FC Augsburg stole three points from Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga with a strong mental performance. Several missed shots and a deficit did not upset the Swabians.
Borussia Mönchengladbach lost 1:2 (1:0) against FC Augsburg on Sunday evening (January 21, 2024) at the end of the 18th matchday of the Bundesliga. The game was interrupted twice due to fan protests against investors’ entry into the Bundesliga.
Jordan Siebatcheu took the lead somewhat happily but with a lot of assertiveness (26th). After the break, the Swabians turned the game around with a double strike: First, Phillip Tietz equalized with similar willpower as Jordan before (47′), just a little later Arne Engels shot the guests in front (51′). With the threesome, Gladbach and Augsburg swapped the order in the table. FCA climbed to tenth place, Gladbach slipped to twelfth place. In addition to whistles for the Gladbach team, there were chants for Stefan Lainer: He celebrated his Bundesliga comeback after recovering from cancer. “That was the most emotional game of my career. For me personally, what counts is the moment of happiness to be back on the pitch,” said the Austrian.
To the live ticker: Gladbach – Augsburg arrow right 18th matchday arrow right
Augsburg does not accommodate great opportunities
It was rather surprising that the hosts took the lead midway through the first half of the game. Jesse Thorup’s team created three top-class chances to score in the opening quarter of an hour. But attempts by both Ruben Vargas (6th) and Ermedin Demirovic (10th) were blocked by the well-positioned Marvin Friedrich, and Frederik Jensen missed the next shot opportunity (11th).
After the fan protests, in which the fans threw chocolate coins onto the field and which led to a total of ten minutes of added time in the first half of the game, the home team appeared more awake and confident. As soon as the “Foals” fans were able to see their team’s possession of the ball more, Jordan pushed the ball over the line with a lot of willpower. After a corner and a mistake by FCA keeper Finn Dahmen, Alassane Pléa spooned the ball into the six-yard box, where Augsburg failed to clear the ball and Jordan celebrated after a poke. Borussia then pushed for the second goal, but they didn’t succeed.
Tim Wichmann, sports show, January 21, 2024 7:37 p.m
Double strike shocks Gladbach
Mönchengladbach’s coach Gerardo Seoane, who had to do without his regular director Julian Weigl, brought in Christoph Kramer for Rocco Reitz in the second half. While the hosts were still sorting themselves out, Augsburg equalized. Kevin Mbabu crossed into the middle after a pass from Jensen, where Tietz was simply stronger in a duel with Joe Scally and headed the ball into the goal from close range with the Gladbacher clinging to him.
A little later, the guest from Bavaria was having a lot of fun: the enthusiastic Tietz played the ball with his heel to Demirovic, who simply copied his colleague and also passed it on with his heel into the middle. There Vargas missed what was good for Engels, who shot the ball into the goal from a central position in a penalty manner. Moritz Nicolas was powerless in the home side’s box.
Augsburg’s coach Thorup appeals to morale
Augsburg’s head coach Jess Thorup probably found the right words during the break: “I talked about morals and faith at halftime. The team believed from the start of the second half that something was possible here. We tried after that too “To score the third goal makes me happy. The team’s morale is great,” Thorup praised his team to the sports show.
Borussia Mönchengladbach pushed for the equalizer for the entire second 45 minutes, but both Pléa (65th) and Nico Elvedi (82nd) had no success. FCA could have almost celebrated again with a shot from Iago, but Nicolas directed the ball over the crossbar (75′). Augsburg cheered when referee Martin Petersen blew the final whistle after a total of 105 minutes of play. “It was too flawed overall. We missed both starting phases in the halves,” Gladbach’s coach Seoane told the Sportschau after the final whistle.
Gladbach in Leverkusen, FCA welcomes Bayern
Difficult tasks await both teams on matchday 19. The Gladbachers will meet the league leaders in Leverkusen in the Saturday evening game (01/27/24, 6:30 p.m.), while the Augsburg team will host the ailing Bayern beforehand (3:30 p.m.).