Bundesliga
A late Dodi Lukebakio penalty earned Hertha Berlin three points and some much-needed breathing room above the relegation zone after Laszlo Benes and Kryzstof Piatek had exchanged blows in a 2-1 win for the Old Lady over Augsburg.
Hertha Berlin 2-1 Augsburg
Goals: 0-1 Benes (2'), 1-1 Piatek (62'), 2-1 Lukebakio (pen. 89')
The hosts' hopes of ending a nine-game winless streak were dealt an early blow as the guests struck after only a minute. Hertha did not clear the danger after a cross from the right and Benes was teed up by Andre Hahn for a sweeping left-foot volley past Rune Jarstein. Jhon Cordoba, back in action for the first time since Matchday 18, endeavoured to bring Berlin back on terms, first firing in from a tight angle before turning dangerously to create space for another shot, though each time he was denied by Rafal Gikiewicz. A Deyovaisio Zeefuik header also tested Gikiewicz, who was becoming the busier of the two goalkeepers and had to make a fine save with his right leg to deny Santiago Ascacibar. Most of the action was being played out in front of the Augsburg goal, but the best chance came at the other end with Florian Niederlechner hitting the post with a stooping header.
Hertha nearly started the second half the way Augsburg had the first, but Gikiewicz was decisive again in turning Cordoba's low drive away with a strong right hand. There was nothing the last line of the Augsburg defence could do to keep out a powerful header by Piatek, which brought the hosts level on the hour mark, though. Vladimir Darida supplied the assist for the sixth time this season, looping a cross back for the Pole to head in with aplomb. Niederlechner had Augsburg's best chances to regain the lead as the Bavarians, after weathering the storm, began to assert themselves on the game once again. Yet it was the hosts who squandered the next opportunity to snatch victory when Lukebakio sent a free header wide of Gikiewicz's post, though he was given the opportunity to make amends from the penalty spot when Lucas Tousart went down in the box. The Belgian duly stroked the ball home to secure a win that puts three points between Hertha and the relegation zone.
Hertha: Jarstein - Klünter, Stark (c), M. Dardai - Zeefuik (Lukebakio 65'), Ascacibar (Guendouzi 46'), Tousart (Alderete 90'+1), Mittelstädt (Netz 46') - Darida (Löwen 85') - Piatek, Cordoba
Unused subs: Schwolow, Pekarik, Leckie, Plattenhardt
Out: Boyata (foot), Cunha (thigh), Dilrosun (knee), Khedira (calf), Radonjic (groin)
Coach: Pal Dardai
Augsburg: Gikiewicz - Framberger, Gouweleeuw (c), Uduokhai, Pedersen - Strobl, Khedira (Vargas 89') - Caligiuri, Benes (Richter 74'), Hahn (Sarenren Bazee 90') – Niederlechner (Gregoritsch 83')
Unused subs: Koubek, Gumny, Suchy, Gruezo, Oxford
Out: Civeja (knee), Finnbogason (calf), Iago (ankle), Jensen (thigh)
Coach: Heiko Herrlich