2-0 win against Cologne in the Bundesliga: FC Augsburg’s series continues

In the Augsburg Arena, this evening felt like a consciously staged return to another time right from the start. The FC Augsburg players wore lily-like ornaments, a light pink collar and a golden guilder on the bottom left of their jersey – a special jersey that was visibly based on the era of a man who still shapes the city of Augsburg today: Jakob Fugger the Rich. But the Renaissance told that evening was not limited to material and symbolism. She showed up on the lawn. And it resulted in a 2-0 home win against 1. FC Köln.

From the very beginning, the Bavarian Swabians appeared like landlords in their own palace. The first shot of the game belonged to Rodrigo Ribeiro. Despite slight contact from Cologne goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe, the ball clearly went over the goal in the fourth minute. The referee team around Tobias Welz overlooked the subsequent corner. Just a few minutes later, Ribeiro checked Schwäbe again. However, his shot at the left corner was too unplaced (10th).

Before this evening, FCA had been unbeaten in seven home games in a row. The starting position was different for the guests; their last away win was several months ago. Recently, Cologne was convincing in terms of play – but too often failed to produce results. And while Cologne can’t convert their decent performances into points at the moment, Augsburg wins exactly those games in the second half of the season that are on the line.

Nevertheless, the first half remained tough overall. Both teams rarely found clean solutions in the final third. The best opportunity before the break once again belonged to the guests. After a corner, Erik Martel hit his header against the crossbar (38′). Augsburg did not allow any more danger until the break.

After the break, Cologne tried to increase the pressure. Isak Johannesson hit a cross from the right into the penalty area. Kristoffer Lund headed the ball at the second post and aimed for the near corner. Finn Dahmen dived into the Augsburg goal and made a save (48′). But Cologne’s initial offensive went in the opposite direction just a few minutes later. Central defender Noahkai Banks marched unchallenged through the guests’ penalty area. Marius Bülter only accompanied him. Ribeiro was right in the middle – and refined the sharp cross with a heel to make it 1-0 (55th).

It was the moment that symbolized this evening. Augsburg survived the short period of pressure – and smothered the last doubts about their own development. In the second half of the season, FCA even moved up to second place in the league – at least temporarily. And Augsburg is no longer one of the relegation candidates in the overall table. Ninth place means a secure midfield.

The question slowly arises: What else is possible for Augsburg this season?

The structure that has supported Augsburg’s upswing for weeks remained stable in the second half. Cologne coach Lukas Kwasniok substituted Said El Mala after 66 minutes; his team looked for solutions but could hardly find any space between the lines. In the final phase, goalkeeper Schwäbe even moved into the Augsburg penalty area during a corner. But this last offensive also had no result, because Augsburg switched gears faster after the opponent’s corner. Alexis Claude-Maurice won the ball near the halfway line and pushed it into the empty goal – 2-0 (95th). It wasn’t the decisive goal, but it was a fitting end to the game from Augsburg’s perspective.

In the end there was a victory that told much more than just the story of the three points. For the club’s 500th Bundesliga game, the Fuggerstadt team were able to continue writing their history: eight home games in a row without defeat, another home game without conceding a goal. And so the question of what is still possible in this second half of the season is quietly growing in Augsburg. Still, no one wanted to get cocky. Because “the season is not over yet,” explained captain Keven Schlotterbeck after the game on Sky.