Bundesliga
Augsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt played out a goalless draw in a match of real contrast. The Bavarians dominated the first half, while the Eagles came alive after the break following tactical changes. Both sides hit the woodwork and saw their goalkeepers, and in some cases defenders, make crucial interventions to share the spoils.
Prtiot to kick-off, both sides were eager to secure results which would aid their respective pushes for European qualification next season. The home side started the brighter of the two, with Alexis Claude-Maurice testing Trapp early on. Augsburg's high-energy pressing game caused problems for Frankfurt, who struggled to find their rhythm.
The visitors failed to register a single shot in the first half, while Augsburg created several promising opportunities. Samuel Essende came closest for the hosts, his low drive whistling past the post in the 20th minute. Despite their dominance, Augsburg couldn't find the breakthrough, leaving the scores level at the break.
Dino Toppmöller's half-time changes transformed the match, with Ansgar Knauff and Jean-Mattéo Bahoya injecting pace and creativity into Frankfurt's attack. The visitors quickly found their feet, with Knauff forcing a save from Finn Dahmen within minutes of the restart. The game opened up, with both sides trading blows in an end-to-end second half. Frankfurt's resurgence was epitomised by Rasmus Kristensen's effort that struck the post in the 54th minute, while Mërgim Berisha responded for Augsburg by hitting the woodwork himself just moments later.
As the match wore on, both goalkeepers came to the fore. Dahmen produced a stunning save to deny Ekitiké when clean through, while Trapp's reflexes were tested by a fierce drive from Phillip Tietz late on. The defining moment of the match came in the 70th minute when Knauff rounded Dahmen and looked certain to score, only for Cédric Adrian Zesiger to make a heroic goal-line clearance.
Zesiger's commanding performance at the heart of Augsburg's defence was crucial in securing a point for his team. The Swiss centre-back made several important interventions throughout the match, none more so than his goal-line clearance to deny Knauff what seemed a certain goal. Zesiger's positioning and reading of the game were impeccable, as he consistently thwarted Frankfurt's attacks. His ability to play out from the back also helped Augsburg maintain possession under pressure. Zesiger's stellar display epitomised Augsburg's resilient defensive effort and was key to their clean sheet.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Augsburg 0.97 - Frankfurt 1.47
Fastest player: Henri Koudossou (Augsburg), 34.02 km/h
Most pressed player: Alexis Claude-Maurice (Augsburg), 26 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Samuel Essende (Augsburg), +2.97
Fantasy Heroes: Robin Koch (Frankfurt, 252 Points), Nathaniel Brown (Frankfurt, 217 Points), Marius Wolf (Augsburg, 213 Points)