FC Augsburg vs. TSG Hoffenheim rounded off Bundesliga matchday 18 with the teams producing a spectacle in the falling Bavarian snow. Both teams wanted a result to improve their chances of European football for next term. FC Augsburg ran out 3-1 winners and now in touching distance of the Champions League places following their seventh win in nine home matches. FCA in fifth are level on points with Borussia Mönchengladbach and Schalke 04. Seventh-placed TSG remain in the mix for Europa League football despite the defeat.
Markus Weinzeirl's side netted two goals in two first-half minutes just before the break. Halil Altintop got on the end of on-loan Bayern midfielder Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg's cross to open the scoring. Moments later, Tobias Werner headed home a free kick to double FCA's advantage. But the guests from Hoffenheim showed they were unaffected by the double blow and reacted immediately. Roberto Firmino headed into the FCA net to halve the deficit just before the break.
FCA were clearly on top in the second half but the decisive third goal just wouldn't come for them. The win was rarely in doubt though as the guests failed to produce any chance of note for lengthy periods of time. Only in added time did TSG pose a threat to the Augsburg goal. But FCA keeper Alexander Manninger rescued his team with a fantastic save from a David Abraham header. The hosts then found that third goal when Raul Bobadilla rounded off a counterattack to make it 3-1.
Di Santo at the double for Werder
The beginning of the end of matchday 18 in the Bundesliga was marked by the match between Werder Bremen and Hertha BSC. Both teams stood in the lower regions of the table prior to the game and needed to begin the second half of the season on a good note. Both Hertha and Bremen shipped plenty of goals prior to the winter break (Bremen 39, Berlin 35). Werder, who impressed on the day, won 2-0 courtesy of a brace from Franco di Santo. SVW jump to twelfth place from the relegation place, while Hertha slip to 15th.
The hosts put in a courageous performance in an intense first half, exerting more and more pressure on the Berlin goal. Di Santo netted the important opener just before the break to give Bremen the lead. After Gebre Selassie perfectly fed the striker with a pass, Di Santo struck the ball into the far corner. Werder were the better team in the first half and showed their new strength at home. SCW now have four wins in their last five matches.
Hertha have more possession but Werder counter
Berlin got into the game more after the interval but produced little of note. Hertha had more possession but lacked ideas in attack. Werder defender their lead intelligently and deployed quick counters. Di Santo then struck to make it 2-0 in the 69th minute. The Argentine released a scissor kick from eleven metres into the right corner following a Clemens Fritz cross.
Bremen has then decided the game already. Berlin were unable to reply and deserved to taste defeat. The guests from the capital offered little and Werder cantered to victory.
Junuzović misses next game
The hosts and Austrian Zlatko Junuzović always posed a threat from set-pieces. Skripnik has to make do without the set-piece maestro for their next game. The midfielder received his fifth yellow card of the season and will miss the midweek fixture against Hoffenheim this coming Wednesday.
FC Augsburg vs. TSG Hoffenheim rounded off Bundesliga matchday 18 with the teams producing a spectacle in the falling Bavarian snow. Both teams wanted a result to improve their chances of European football for next term. FC Augsburg ran out 3-1 winners and now in touching distance of the Champions League places following their seventh win in nine home matches. FCA in fifth are level on points with Borussia Mönchengladbach and Schalke 04. Seventh-placed TSG remain in the mix for Europa League football despite the defeat.
Markus Weinzeirl's side netted two goals in two first-half minutes just before the break. Halil Altintop got on the end of on-loan Bayern midfielder Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg's cross to open the scoring. Moments later, Tobias Werner headed home a free kick to double FCA's advantage. But the guests from Hoffenheim showed they were unaffected by the double blow and reacted immediately. Roberto Firmino headed into the FCA net to halve the deficit just before the break.
FCA were clearly on top in the second half but the decisive third goal just wouldn't come for them. The win was rarely in doubt though as the guests failed to produce any chance of note for lengthy periods of time. Only in added time did TSG pose a threat to the Augsburg goal. But FCA keeper Alexander Manninger rescued his team with a fantastic save from a David Abraham header. The hosts then found that third goal when Raul Bobadilla rounded off a counterattack to make it 3-1.
Di Santo at the double for Werder
The beginning of the end of matchday 18 in the Bundesliga was marked by the match between Werder Bremen and Hertha BSC. Both teams stood in the lower regions of the table prior to the game and needed to begin the second half of the season on a good note. Both Hertha and Bremen shipped plenty of goals prior to the winter break (Bremen 39, Berlin 35). Werder, who impressed on the day, won 2-0 courtesy of a brace from Franco di Santo. SVW jump to twelfth place from the relegation place, while Hertha slip to 15th.
The hosts put in a courageous performance in an intense first half, exerting more and more pressure on the Berlin goal. Di Santo netted the important opener just before the break to give Bremen the lead. After Gebre Selassie perfectly fed the striker with a pass, Di Santo struck the ball into the far corner. Werder were the better team in the first half and showed their new strength at home. SCW now have four wins in their last five matches.
Hertha have more possession but Werder counter
Berlin got into the game more after the interval but produced little of note. Hertha had more possession but lacked ideas in attack. Werder defender their lead intelligently and deployed quick counters. Di Santo then struck to make it 2-0 in the 69th minute. The Argentine released a scissor kick from eleven metres into the right corner following a Clemens Fritz cross.
Bremen has then decided the game already. Berlin were unable to reply and deserved to taste defeat. The guests from the capital offered little and Werder cantered to victory.
Junuzović misses next game
The hosts and Austrian Zlatko Junuzović always posed a threat from set-pieces. Skripnik has to make do without the set-piece maestro for their next game. The midfielder received his fifth yellow card of the season and will miss the midweek fixture against Hoffenheim this coming Wednesday.
