Kristijan Jakić was unable to complete the second half against Freiburg after an unfortunate slip on the tunnel steps. - © IMAGO/Fotostand / Schäfer

bundesliga

Augsburg lose Kristijan Jakić to peculiar injury against Freiburg

18.01.2026

Kristijan Jakić was substituted at half-time of Augsburg's 2-2 draw at home to Freiburg on Matchday 18, having slipped on the tunnel steps as he was re-entering the field of play.

The Croatian midfielder was unable to continue after the awkward accident and needed to be replaced by Elvis Rexhbecaj.

There was fortune in that misfortune, though, as far as his team was concerned - Augsburg soon opened the scoring, and his replacement doubled their lead just four minutes after replacing him!

That was Rexhbecaj's first goal of the season, and although his side went on to surrender their two-goal lead to Julian Schuster's men after goals from Yuito Suzuki and Igor Matanović, they took a valuable point in their battle against the drop in the 2-2 draw.

Augsburg coach Manuel Baum said: "Nothing is impossible in football. We weren't sure if he had slipped or twisted his ankle. Whatever the case, his muscle just tightened up. He was ten steps away from the second half – but then came Elvis.”

Augsburg will face league leaders and Bavarian rivals Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena next on Matchday 19, where they'll hope to cause an upset and distance themselves from 16th-placed Heidenheim.

As of yet, it's unclear whether they'll have Jakić available for the derby, but they'll be hoping the midfielder can make a swift recovery from his injury.