Caligiuri strikes late as 10-man Augsburg deny Gladbach

Borussia Mönchengladbach 1-1 Augsburg

Goals: 1-0 Neuhaus (5’), 1-1 Caligiuri (88’)
Red card: Framberger (66’)

Alfred Finnbogason was making his first start of the campaign and the Augsburg attacker was denied by Yann Sommer inside 30 seconds. Instead it was Gladbach who went in front following their first clear opportunity. It was a case of third time lucky for the home side, as Breel Embolo spun his man before forcing a save from Rafal Gikiewicz. Lars Stindl was unable to squeeze in the rebound as the Augsburg keeper reacted quickly, but the loose ball then ran to Neuhaus just inside the area. The recently capped Germany international slammed home with a sweetly struck first-time effort for his first Bundesliga goal of the season. After 15 minutes, however, both teams had three attempts at goal with out-of-form Augsburg not taking long to get over the early setback. The Foals looked more dangerous, though, and Patrick Herrmann arrowed a shot over before Embolo spurned a great chance to make it 2-0 ten minutes before the break. The Swiss striker headed into the ground and over the bar from close range following a pin-point Stefan Lainer cross from the right. Stindl also went close just before the interval, with the Gladbach captain’s free-kick flying just the wrong side of the post.

Marco Rose’s home team continued to look most likely to get another goal after the restart, but Hannes Wolf’s header was gathered by Gikiewicz. Embolo was played through by Herrmann on the hour and seemed certain to double Gladbach’s lead, but Augsburg’s Polish netminder narrowed the angle swiftly and got enough on the side-footed attempt to divert the ball onto the post. The visitors' chances of mounting a comeback then took a blow midway through the half when they were reduced to ten men. Raphael Framberger was sent on after 54 minutes but 12 minutes later the defender had picked up two bookings - the second of which came after a collision with Embolo as the Gladbach forward tried to race clear again. Embolo forced a save and then hit the side netting as it looked like Gladbach would cruise to victory. Augsburg had plenty of possession throughout the game, however, and they created one moment of panic before the end. Michael Gregoritsch was unable to get a shot on target inside the area, but a hasty, sliced clearance only went as far as Caligiuri. The former Schalke player struck a fierce volley from the right of the penalty area, and it took a nick off Oscar Wendt as it flew past Sommer.

• Neuhaus now has four goals for club and country this season. He scored twice in a DFB Cup first round success against fourth-tier Oberneuland in September before also netting on his Germany debut in a 3-3 draw with Turkey in October.
• Gladbach are still unbeaten at home this season, having chalked up one win and three draws in the league.
• Stindl is the Gladbach's top scorer this term. All four of his Bundesliga goals in the current campaign have been scored away from home.
• Caligiuri has already got three league goals for Augsburg this season. That's one more than he managed for Schalke in 2019/20.
• Framberger was red carded for the first time on his 44th appearance in the Bundesliga.
• Augsburg head coach Heiko Herrlich is a former Gladbach attacker. He has faced his former employers seven times since moving into management, winning five of those meetings.

Gladbach: Sommer - Lainer, Ginter, Elvedi, Wendt - Kramer, Neuhaus (Zakaria 89') - Herrmann (Lazaro 67'), Stindl (c) (Thuram 78'), Wolf - Embolo
Unused subs: Sippel, Lang, Traore, Benes, Jantschke, Reitz
Out: Bensebaini (not included), Hofmann (thigh), Plea (not included), Poulsen (shoulder)
Coach: Marco Rose 

Augsburg: Gikiewicz - Gumny (Framberger 54'), Gouweleeuw (c), Uduokhai, Iago - Caligiuri, Khedira, Strobl, Vargas (Richter 82') - Niederlechner (Gregoritsch 65'), Finnbogason (Hahn 65')
Unused subs: Koubek, Suchy, Oxford, Petkov
Out: Bazee (knee), Jensen (ankle), Moravek (thigh)
Coach: Heiko Herrlich