Malen rescues point for Dortmund in Augsburg

Augsburg 1-1 Dortmund
Goals: 1-0 Demirović 23' (assist: Pedersen), 1-1 Malen (assist: Füllkrug)

Much improved under Jess Thorup - going six unbeaten before losing to Werder Bremen last weekend - Augsburg made a confident start as Fredrik Jensen pinged wide before flashing a probing pass across the face of goal. Dortmund - 11 points off leaders Bayer Leverkusen at the start of play - responded in kind through Marco Reus, whose attempt to find the bottom corner was thwarted by Augsburg stopper Finn Dahmen. Malen then sent a deflected effort wide, but Augsburg wrestled back the initiative to take a 23rd-minute lead. Demirović finished brilliantly after collecting a long ball and brushing off Nico Schlotterbeck, his eighth Bundesliga goal of the season standing following a VAR review for a possible foul on the Dortmund defender. Malen tested Dahmen as BVB sought an immediate response, before linking up with Niclas Füllkrug to make it a case of third time lucky and level.

Slow starters in the first half, Dortmund were also guilty of dozing on the job after the restart. Three golden chances in the space of five minutes fell the way of Phillip Tietz, who headed into the arms of Gregor Kobel with his first, powered a header over with his second and was denied by a fabulous save with his third. BVB began to stir in an attacking sense as Füllkrug dragged an effort wide after smart play from Malen, who saw a deflected effort zip past the post moments later. The threat of an Augsburg goal was never far away, though, with Demirović racing into the box chipping over Kobel, only for Schlotterbeck to hook clear in front of the goal-line. Substitute Samuel Bamba heading a difficult chance wide following a mix-up in the Augsburg defence, as Dortmund found a second wind. Füllkrug could do no better from the edge of the area after Dahmen had been caught in no man's land. He had an even better chance in the closing stages, but Augsburg's No.1 pulled off a fabulous point-blank save. Augsburg substitute Ruben Vargas skewed wide and Dortmund's Gio Reyna shot straight at Dahmen as an enthralling contest ended one apiece.

Watch: Kobel: "We're very disappointed again"

• Dortmund have only won one of their last six Bundesliga games.
• Demirović has been directly involved in over half of Augsburg’s 24 goals this campaign, scoring eight and setting up a further five.
• Malen scored his fifth goal of the Bundesliga season.
• Füllkrug has been directly involved in a goal in each of his last five Bundesliga appearances (three goals, three assists), equalling his best-ever run at this level (for Werder Bremen).
• Bamba, 17, made his Bundesliga debut.
• Augsburg have picked up 13 of their 18 points this season at home, where they have lost only two of their last five encounters with Dortmund (W2, D2). Their last victory was in September 2020 (2-0).

>>> Get Füllkrug for your Fantasy team for 15.5M!

Augsburg: Dahmen - Mbabu (Pfeiffer 90'), Gouweleeuw, Uduokhai, Pedersen - Rexhbecaj, Dorsch - Engels (Gumny 69'), Demirović (c) (Vargas 77'), Jensen (Breithaupt 90') - Tietz (Beljo 77')
Unused subs: Koubek, Bauer, Maier, Michel
Out: Framberger (knee), Iago (thigh), Oxford (illness)
Coach: Jess Thorup

Dortmund: Kobel - Meunier, Süle, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini - Can (c) (Haller 89') - Reus (Reyna 58'), Brandt - Malen, Bynoe-Gittens (Bamba 72') - Füllkrug
Unused subs: Meyer, Papadopoulos, Blank, Wolf, Özcan, Sabitzer
Out: Adeyemi (muscular), Duranville (thigh), Hummels (suspended), Moukoko (thigh), Nmecha (hip), Ryerson (knee)
Coach: Edin Terzić