The 2025/26 Bundesliga marketing campaign formally reached its half-way level on Thursday night time as FC Augsburg hosted Union Berlin within the ultimate match of the “Hin-runde”. Manuel Baum’s Fuggerstädter celebrated Alexis Claude-Maurice’s very first aim of all the season as they charged forward 1-0 at dwelling. It took the person who scored 9 Bundesliga objectives final season (together with 16 league rounds to lastly open his account. Because it turned out, Claude-Maurice turned in an absolute stunner.
Augsburg labored onerous to defend their slender 1-0 lead, however had been ultimately undone by As soon as once more, Baumgart’s substitutes got here to the rescue. Three of the gamers Baumgart launched late on to attain the 1-1 at 90+2. Union subs have now scored the membership’s final 5 objectives. Striker Marin Ljubicic – in simply his second look of the season – has now scored a late equalizer in back-to-back matches. Ljubicic’s 2025/26 account options two objectives in solely 20 minutes of soccer.
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Get German Soccer Information is happy to provide a full rundown of the match, full participant scores for each side, the Man-of-the-Match award, and our tactical assessment of a very powerful elements of the fixture. As can be coated down under, Baumgart’s “Midas Contact” has a lot to do with a late match tactical tweak he’s been using over the past 5 league video games.
The rundown of the match – inclusive fan protests – first.
A sleepy opening half hour
Neither facet produced a aim scoring likelihood within the opening 19 minutes. Newly inadvertently bumped into former Augsburg man Rani Khedira not lengthy after kickoff. Play was halted for a time because the Union medical employees went by way of the concussion protocols with their midfielder. The sport appeared to not get better a lot circulation after this early interruption, although each groups additionally cancelled themselves out tactically (noticed under) and has points with their normal timing.
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The primary actual likelihood of the sport got here within the Nineteenth-minute when Union midfielder Andras Schäfer headed a good Oliver Burke cross vast. A couple of minutes later, Union attacker Woo-Yeong Jeong had a crack from about 15 meters out. Burke himself shot vast after a good Union counter within the twenty ninth minute. Union appeared the marginally livelier facet within the opening half-hour. Each groups had been then given a break as soon as a joint protest motion between the Union and Augsburg followers passed off on the half-hour-mark
Union and Augsburg followers protest
As is all the time the case when a Bundesliga match takes place solely for the advantage of a TV contract, Bundesliga stadium goers protest what they contemplate to be an affront to their loyalty to their membership. The truth that a Bundesliga fixture is being performed on a Thursday night time is because of the truth that the DFL awarded Sky a Thursday night time sport in the course of the uncommon “Englischer Wochen” through which the Bundesliga performs throughout midweek. Supporters from each side threw objects on the pitch and chanted “Scheiß DFL” within the Thirtieth-minute.
It took seven minutes to clear the rubber balls and flummis thrown onto the pitch. The extended interruption didn’t find yourself resulting in the groups producing significantly better soccer. The ball remained glued to the midfield as neither facet managed to win a number of floor duels. As one would count on, it could take some lifeless ball conditions to liven the match up. The Bavarian Swabian hosts obtained the possibility to mud off their set-piece playbook as soon as the match entered first-half harm time.
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Alexis Claude Maurice scores his wondergoal
Claude Maurice despatched in a splendidly curled free-kick at 45+2 that was solely cleared by Union defender Diogo Leite. Robin Fellhauer practically capitalized on a second effort, however a minimum of received the primary nook of the sport whereas attempting to work the rebound. The following nook did produce hazard as FCU keeper Frederik Rønnow had problem clearing a Keven Schlotterbeck header. Claude Maurice would later threaten with one other free-kick at 45+5.
Simply earlier than it was time to go into the locker room, Claude-Maurice produced his stunner at 40+6. The Frenchman sat deep and intercepted one other Union clearance after his drop ball. From a minimum of 25 meters out, Clause-Maurice tomahawked in an exquisite strike that appeared completely telegraphed to land in the proper nook. Rønnow cease completely no likelihood.
Augsburg assured after the break
Enjoying with renewed vim and vigor, one may barely acknowledge Manuel Baum’s XI after the change-of-ends. After sitting again timidly for many all the first half, Augsburg moved the ball ahead extra courageously after the restart. It nonetheless took one other lifeless ball to provide the half’s first likelihood. Claude-Maurice truly struck the put up with one other fantastic free-kick from 18 meters out within the 58th-minute. Two minutes later, Claude-Maurice spurned a superb FCA counter that just about ended with Anton Kade scoring the 2-0.
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Baumgart subs strike once more
The one Augsburg substitute to actually make a mark was Mert Kömür, who performed an vital function in a counterattack within the 81st. The sadly couldn’t provide the end. Augsburg had another respectable alternatives (mentioned within the tactical assessment under), but it surely was principally Union down the stretch. It genuinely appeared as if it could not be Union’s day with Querfeld (71st) and Khedira (79th) lacking the largest possibilities at an equalizer.
It really didn’t look to be Union’s day when match official Florian Badstubner despatched Union wingback Derrick Köhn off on a straight purple card within the 89th. Köhn performed the ball along with his excessive boot, however couldn’t handle to keep away from studding FCA substitute Samuel Essende within the face after touching the leather-based. Two minutes after Köhn’s sending off, Union scored their equalizer.
Simply it was January 2024 switch flop Marin Ljubicic who scored the equalizer. To make issues even barely extra ridiculous, who crossed the ball in and struggling FCU striker Andrej Ilic (off the bench) who formally equipped the assists. Additionally , the aim wasn’t precisely the prettiest.
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Ljubicic merely poached dwelling his end.
FC Augsburg Participant Scores
Finn Dahmen (6) – Cedric Zesiger (4), Keven Schlotterbeck (6), Noahkhai Banks (6) – Dimitrios Giannoulis (5), Elvis Rexhbecaj (5), Kristijian Jakic (4), Robin Fellhauer (8) – Alexis Claude Maurice (9), Anton Kade (9) – Michael Gregoritsch (4)
Substitutes: Han-Noah Massengo (7), Marius Wolf (6), Mert Kömür (6), Samuel Essende (5), Fabian Rieder (-)
1. FC Union Berlin Participant Scores
Frederik Rønnow (7) – Diogo Leite (7), Leopold Querfeld (8), Danilho Doekhi (6) – Derrick Köhn (4), Andras Schäfer (5), Rani Khedira (6), Christoph Trimmel (6) – Ilyas Ansah (6), Woo-Yeong Jeong (7) – Oliver Burke (6)
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Substitutes: Aljoscha Kemlein (6), Livan Burcu (4), Andrej Ilic (6), Alex Kral (6), Marin Ljubicic (7)
GGFN Participant of the Match: Alexis Claude-Maurice (9)
Augsburg could have dropped factors once more, however Baum and the remainder of the group can take monumental solace in the truth that Claude-Maurice is again up and operating. The unlikely strike of the put up robbed Claude-Maurice of his brace. The FCA assault solely actually received rolling within the second half due to Claude-Maurice’s 12 sprints and three lengthy dribbles. Optically, the 27-year-old seemed exceptionally robust in his ultimate 38 minutes on the pitch. Baum sadly needed to withdraw him for a “curtain name” in entrance of the followers. In any other case, we may be discussing a distinct consequence.
Tactical Overview, FC Augsburg
Baum made 4 adjustments to the XI simply dismantled by Gladbach early on Sunday. Kristijan Jakic and Elvis Rexhbecaj changed the earlier midfield double six set-up of Han Noah Massengo and Mert Kömür. Dimitrios Giannoulius returned from his yellow card suspension to take over for at left wingback. Gregoritsch took Fabian Rieder’s squad slot whereas Anton Kade moved again to Rieder’s place.
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The group lined up in a 3-4-3 formation.
Lineup—FCA—(3-4-3)
Watching Michael Gregoritsch work in his first Bundesliga begin since returning to German soccer, the Austrian worldwide appeared far slower than his 31-years ought to go away him. To be truthful, he by no means was the quickest of forwards. Gregoritsch held the ball up fairly nicely on the few events he received touches in, however these had been just too few and much between because the separation between Baum’s high two axes had been just too far aside. The newly refreshed double-six duo received their justifiable share of duels, but themselves struggled to maneuver the ball with conviction.
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Fellhauer and Kade received a number of clear one-twos rolling within the first half and did very nicely on the Sixtieth-minute counterattack. When Marius Wolf entered for Giannoulis within the seventy fifth, Fellhauer moved over to the left whereas Wolf took the left. This swap led to 1 respectable likelihood from ahead punching Noahkai Banks within the 77th and one other very close to miss from Fellhauer within the 87th. Massengo was by far the very best of Baum’s 5 subs. It was additionally relatively cool to look at cameras catch the Belgian juggling the rubber balls the followers threw on the pitch within the first half.
Augsburg Tactical Evaluation
Phrew. One desires to present Baum the advantage of the doubt with the squad rotations throughout this “Englischer Woche”, however Massengo a minimum of in all probability ought to a minimum of been allowed to play from the beginning. The back-three did an particularly poor job on the low outward cycles for a lot of the match, suggesting that Baum must get a number of the fundamentals down along with his defenders. One mustn’t neglect Baum’s general repute as a coach. Anybody for the double shivers of the “Geisterspiel Period” with Schalke?
It additionally proved relatively bizarre to not see Baum interact with the group in the course of the protest break. One should discuss with one’s gamers at any time when there’s a long-pause within the motion, notably in the event that they performed as dangerous as Augsburg did in the course of the opening half hour. Baum by no means precisely loved the repute of a tactical wizard and Augsburg actually don’t want him to be. That being stated, the “regular hand” the membership seeks must do higher along with his one-on-one with gamers.
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Tactical Overview, Union Berlin
Baumgart additionally made 4 adjustments to the XI that lined up towards Mainz, lending over teen Livan Burcu. Ilyas Ansah additionally received the nod over Andrej Ilic in assault. Oliver Burke moved up from the proper buttressing assist attacker function to spearhead Baumgart’s 3-4-3; completely modified on the highest two axes.
Farther down the pitch, Andras Schäfer (midfield six) and captain Christopher Trimmel (proper wingback) took over for Aljoscha Kemlein and Janik Haberer on straight swaps. There have been loads of rotations on varied prices within the assault, however Burke for essentially the most previous appeared chargeable for dealing with the middle along with his tempo.
Lineup—FCU—(3-4-3)
Because the participant scores above clarify, Union performed by far the extra enticing soccer. Jeong, Burke, and Ansah can all take satisfaction of their efficiency, even when the final touch was missing. One discovered little fault with Union’s play all through a lot of the second 45 as nicely. In contrast to Keven Schlotterbeck and the FCA back-three, Leopold Querfeld principally received the triangles proper. Outdated Man Christopher Trimmel (38) did very nicely on set-pieces.
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Ahem.
That is how Baumgart will get late objectives out of his subs:
Lineup—FCU—83rd minute (4-3-3)
Cool no?
Union Berlin Tactical Evaluation
As Baumgart deserves immense credit score for lastly shaking this group out of Urs Fischer’s much more conservative 3-3-2-2. It actually took over two years and two different head coaches (Nenad Bjelica and Bo Svensson) to make it occur. It took Baumgart himself roughly ten months on the job to get the group drilled in a 3-4-3. Now, two months later, Baumgart has two attack-minded formations at his disposal.
Opponents will ultimately catch as much as the 4-3-3 late match re-format and it received’t show the case that Union subs shine perpetually. Moreover, one sincerely doubts that this squad possesses the standard to problem for the Convention League place. That however, Baumgart’s group are solely about 12 factors from security on the official midway level of the season.
The writer offers them perhaps eight extra rounds to succeed in 35 factors.
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