Rodrigo Ribeiro and Alexis Claude-Maurice fire Augsburg to victory over Cologne
Rodrigo Ribeiro and Alexis Claude-Maurice got the goals as Augsburg proved too strong for Cologne as Matchday 24 kicked off on Friday night.
Augsburg 2-0 Cologne
Goals: 1-0 Ribeiro 55' (assist: Banks), 2-0 Claude-Maurice 90'+5 (assist: Gregoritsch)
Augsburg welcomed Cologne to the WWK Arena as one of the Bundesliga's form teams, having won four of their previous five matches. Manuel Baum's side had collected 13 points from six games in the second half of the season – their highest-ever total – and were unbeaten in their previous seven home matches.
The visitors arrived struggling for momentum, with just one point from their last three games, and without an away win in seven attempts.
Cagey first half ends goalless
Augsburg began the match on the front foot, with Ribeiro testing Marvin Schwäbe early on after winning possession high up the pitch. The hosts continued to look dangerous through Noahkai Banks, who twice went close with headers from set-pieces.
Han-Noah Massengo became the first player in the referee's book after a foul on Ragnar Ache, who had scored a spectacular overhead kick last week but struggled to make an impact here.
As the half wore on, Cologne grew into the game and enjoyed more possession. The visitors came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 38th minute when Eric Martel met Jakub Kamiński's corner with a powerful header that crashed against the crossbar.
Ribeiro breaks the deadlock
Cologne made a change at the break with Ísak Jóhannesson replacing Martel, who had been cautioned in the first half. The visitors started brightly with Jóhannesson immediately involved, his cross finding Kristoffer Lund whose header was well saved by Finn Dahmen.
Augsburg were forced into a change when Kristijan Jakić limped off with a hamstring injury, replaced by Yannik Keitel. The breakthrough came in the 55th minute when Banks drove into the penalty area and delivered a low cross that Ribeiro cleverly flicked past Schwäbe with his heel.
Waldschmidt had a chance to equalise but headed just wide, while Claude-Maurice forced Schwäbe into a diving save at the other end. Both coaches made changes as the match wore on, but Augsburg maintained their defensive solidity. In the dying moments, Schwäbe went forward for a Cologne corner but when the ball was cleared, Claude-Maurice raced away and fired into the empty net from 44 metres to seal the points.
Player of the Match: Rodrigo Ribeiro
Ribeiro proved the difference-maker for Augsburg with a moment of quality that broke the deadlock. The Portuguese forward showed excellent predatory instincts to convert Banks' low cross with an impudent flick, giving Schwäbe no chance.
It was his second goal in four Bundesliga matches and first at the WWK Arena since joining the club. Apart fom his goal, Ribeiro was a constant threat throughout, recording four shots in total before being substituted to warm applause in the 68th minute.
His clever movement and link-up play helped sustain Augsburg's attacking presence, while his clinical finishing proved decisive in a tight contest.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Augsburg 0.99 - Cologne 0.62
Fastest player: Fabian Rieder (Augsburg), 33.91 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 2-0 by Alexis Claude-Maurice (Augsburg), 13.57 percent
Most pressed player: Alexis Claude-Maurice (Augsburg), 21 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Noahkai Banks (Augsburg), +2.13
Fantasy Heroes: Alexis Claude-Maurice (FC Augsburg, 279 Points), Noahkai Banks (FC Augsburg, 263 Points), Rodrigo Ribeiro (FC Augsburg, 193 Points)
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