Alfred Finnbogason's winter arrival helped FC Augsburg extend their stay in the top flight. - © © imago / Jan Huebner
Alfred Finnbogason's winter arrival helped FC Augsburg extend their stay in the top flight. - © © imago / Jan Huebner

Season Review 2015/16: FC Augsburg

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Juggling the Bundesliga with UEFA Europa League commitments for the first time in their history was a tough challenge which FC Augsburg managed to overcome in an historic season for the Bavarians.

Season in a nutshell

Augsburg knew that the extraordinary achievement of finishing fifth last season and consequently securing a first ever European qualification could not be taken as the benchmark for the 2015/16 campaign, not least since they were entering new territory with the UEFA Europa League. The Bavarians were said to have exceeded everybody's expectations last season too, and the words of sporting direct Stefan Reuter that they "know where we have come from" were a warning against inflated ambitions.

Top three games

MD13: VfB Stuttgart 0-4 FC Augsburg

As the weakest team away from home, Augsburg travelled to Stuttgart with few expecting them to deliver such a convincing lesson to their hosts. Everything worked like clockwork for Markus Weinzierl's men, who picked up a morale-boosting victory.

MD16: FC Augsburg 2-1 FC Schalke 04

A hugely significant last-minute win for the Bavarians: Caiuby netted the stoppage-time winner as Augsburg left the relegation zone for the first time since Matchday 7.

MD11: FC Augsburg 3-3 1. FSV Mainz 05

It was a game which showed all of Augsburg's morale and character, turning the game around from a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead, before Yoshinori Muto denied them the win in dramatic circumstances.

MVP

A winter arrival from Real Sociedad, Alfred Finnbogason was Augsburg's saviour in the second half of the season. "He's got a certain coolness about him," said Weinzierl of the Icelandic international, who more than earned a full-time stay at the club with his seven goals. The 27-year-old also earned his place on the Iceland squad for EURO 2016 with displays which caught the eye beyond the Bundesliga.

- © imago