Bundesliga
Ruben Vargas claimed a goal and an assist in a scintillating first-half performance as Augsburg earned a 2-1 win at home to Hoffenheim.
Augsburg 2-1 Hoffenheim
Goals: 1-0 Vargas (8’), 2-0 Hahn (23'), 2-1 Skov (85’)
Augsburg started this match with a point to prove and wasted no time in laying down a marker. Vargas and Daniel Caligiuri were at the centre of everything the home side created and combined to give them the lead just eight minutes into the match. Caligiuri burst through the middle and fed Vargas down the left, and the attacker wasted no time firing a shot across goal and into the corner. Vargas turned creator for Augsburg’s second, finding Andre Hahn with a long ball to release him clear on goal from just inside his own half. Try as they might, the Hoffenheim defenders could not catch Hahn’s run and keeper Oliver Baumann had no chance to stop his fierce, well-placed shot. At the break, the hosts held a deserved two-goal lead.
Both coaches elected to ring the changes to begin the second half, with two substitutions for Augsburg and three coming on for Hoffenheim, including England U21 star Ryan Sessegnon. Most surprisingly, first-half hero Vargas was among those withdrawn. The changes gave Hoffenheim a bit more stability upon which to build and while the visitors had the lion’s share of possession, Augsburg were able to weather the storm and protect their lead until deep into the half. With just five minutes left in regulation time, a Hoffenheim attack saw the ball loop over the penalty area and fall into the path of an onrushing Robert Skov, who connected with a fantastic volley to reduce the deficit. Unfortunately for the away side, that would be the high point of their afternoon, as Augsburg held on for all three points.
Augsburg: Gikiewicz - Framberger (Pedersen, 46'), Gouweleeuw (c), Uduokhai, Gumny - Khedira, Gruezo - Caligiuri, Richter (Oxford, 67'), Vargas (Gregoritsch, 46') - Hahn
Unused subs: Koubek, Suchy, Sarenren Bazee, Benes, Finnbogason, Strobl
Out: Civeja (pelvis), Iago (ankle), Jensen (thigh), Moravek (muscular), Niederlechner (groin)
Coach: Heiko Herrlich
Hoffenheim: Baumann (c) - Posch, Grillitsch, Richards (Belfodil, 74') - Kaderabek, Rudy (Gacinovic, 46'), Samassekou (Vogt, 46'), John (Sessegnon, 45') - Baumgartner (Skov, 69') - Bebou, Rutter
Unused subs: Pentke, Adams, Akpoguma, Bogarde
Out: Adamyan (hamstring), Bicakcic (knee), Geiger (hamstring), Hübner (ankle), Kramaric (ankle), Nordtveit (foot), Stafylidis (shoulder)
Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß