Tobias Werner's (2nd r.) free-kick helped Augsburg to victory over Hoffenheim in wintry conditions
Tobias Werner's (2nd r.) free-kick helped Augsburg to victory over Hoffenheim in wintry conditions

Augsburg up to fifth after Hoffenheim win

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Augsburg - FC Augsburg climbed up to fifth in the Bundesliga table with a 3-1 win over TSG 1899 Hofffenheim on Sunday.

Höjbjerg influential

Quick-fire efforts from Halil Altintop and Tobias Werner put the hosts in the driving seat and while Hoffenheim rallied on the back of Roberto Firmino's 45th-minute strike, it was Raul Bobadilla who settled a hard-fought contest deep into added time.

FC Bayern München loanee Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg was handed his competitive debut in Augsburg colours and in doing so moved level with Erik Thommy as the club's joint-youngest player to appear for the club in Germany's top flight, aged 7120 days. Die Függerstädter certainly started with a youthful spring in their step, even if it took the best part of 25 minutes to carve out the first meaningful chance of the evening.

Hindered by persistent snowfall, Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann did well to beat away a teasing Höjbjerg free kick, before making a brave stop at the feet of Daniel Baier. Ermin Bikacic took one for the team in swiping away the loose ball in front of Bobadilla, but the Bosnian international could do nothing to prevent Augsburg taking a 38th-minute lead as Altintop powered in another Höjbjerg set piece.

Quick-fire response


Hoffenheim hadn't learnt their lesson and fell further behind late in the half when Werner's inswinging free kick somehow evaded both sets of players on its way into the far corner of Baumann's net. Roles were reversed on the stroke of half time, though, with Firmino directing Pirmin Schwegler's inviting free kick beyond the despairing dive of Alex Manninger to halve the deficit.

The groundsmen worked tirelessly during the interval to clear the pitch of snow. Hoffenheim created the first chance of the half, but Anthony Modeste was unable to make the desired connection with an ambitious overhead attempt. The Frenchman was later withdrawn in favour of Adam Szalai, whose first attempt on goal failed to trouble the goalkeeper after a fine cross from Kevin Volland.

Bobadilla seals deal


A lapse in concentration almost proved costly for Hoffenheim when David Abraham inadvertently glanced Höjbjerg's cross into the path of half-time Augsburg substitute Dong-Won Ji. The South Korean looked certain to score, but his first touch let him down and Baumann was out in a flash to make the save.

Ragnar Klavan spurned a glorious opportunity to put the result beyond any doubt with ten minutes to play, spooning over from Werner's pass. However, Bobadilla succeeded where his Estonian team-mate had failed following a blistering injury-time counter, but not before Manninger had pulled off a quite brilliant save to keep out Abraham's bullet header.

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