Augsburg visited Freiburg in the Bundesliga, but a 2-0 defeat meant that they were unable to move out of the relegation playoff place.
The visitors started far the stronger side, but they were unable to find a way past Oliver Baumann in the Freiburg goal.
Against the run of play Freiburg scored when Alex Manninger parried to Cedrick Makiadi in the first half, with Jonathan Schmid adding a second on 60 minutes to give the hosts all three points.
Read how the action unfolded with our live text commentary.
Hello all and thanks for joining me for tonight's Bundesliga double-header. First up is Freiburg against Augsburg.
First things first - I'll get straight to the team news.
FREIBURG XI: Baumann; Mujdza, Hohn, Diagne, Sorg; Schuster, Makiadi; Schmid, Caligiuri, Rosenthal; Kruse
Augsburg XI: Manninger; Verhaegh, Bracker, Klavan, De Jong; Baier, Morave; Ji, Hahn, Werner; Molders
So it's Jan Rosenthal in support of Max Kruse for Freiburg, with the latter offering a big threat for his side. They will be supported by the often hit-or-miss Schmid and Caligiuri on the flanks.
For Augsburg, Sascha Molders is selected up top in a somewhat attacking lineup with Ji, Hahn and Werner offering the support from midfield. I expect them to come out strongly with the chance to move out of the bottom three.
Remember, we're also bringing coverage of the later game between Hamburg and Wolfsburg, with kickoff there 4.30pm.
In terms of the odds for this one, Freiburg have been made the favourites here. They can be backed at just better than evens - 19/16, while the visitors are further back at around 3/1. The draw? Well, that's 5/2.
In my opinion, the 5/2 looks tempting for me. With both sides having something to play for and with anyone able to beat anyone else this season, I think we'll see a 1-1.
We're almost ready then for the start of this game, and I anticipate an exciting match!
KICKOFF: Here we go then, Augsburg get us underway!
SAVE! Molders is caught offside early on as Augsburg look to take it to Freiburg early on. However, at the other end Freiburg win a corner with their first foray forward and from it Verhaegh almost slices past Manninger but the keeper parries it away.
Augsburg are continuing to look more threatening and Werner almost gets a chance to shoot following a De Jong long throw, but Freiburg manage to clear.
The visitors are pressing high up the pitch and not giving Freiburg a moment to settle. Moravek takes it a little too seriously and fouls Diagne.
Still just the one chance, then, which wasn't so much a chance as a near own-goal. Freiburg win their second corner, this time off Verhaegh.
CHANCE! Diagne acrobatically clers a long ball, but it comes straight back to Augsburg. Molders is played through by Ji to Molders, whose effort is pushed wide by Baumann - but the striker should have done a lot better.
SAVE! Andre Hahn this time with the chance as he's played in down the left following the corner. He tries to cut across Baumann into the bottom corner, but the keeper does really well to save with his legs. He then comes out to commandingly claim a cross. It's been a good start for the hosts' keeper.
Not many chances in the last few minutes. Both teams have seemingly resorted to playing a more direct game, which both defences are dealing with.
Diagne gives away a free kick for jumping all over the back of Molders, and the visitors have a free kick about 35 yards out. It's a poor effort from De jong, but he wins a deflection and a corner, which Baumann claims.
BOOKING: The referee has seen too much from Diagne. This time he goes into the book for what is about his third foul on Molders already.
Werner's free kick is poor and easily cleared, but Mujdza is stopped trying to break with a good tackle from De Jong. It's a bit fiery just at the moment, both sides are giving away free kicks - especially Freiburg. This time Callsen-Bracker and Klavan combine to bring down Kruse.
BOOKING: Manninger manages to get a fist on the ball to punch away the free kick. At the other end Werner is called offside for the second time, although that was a much tigher decision. Freiburg come forward again, but are really struggling to create chances and Oliver Sorg is the second player booked for a high foot on Hahn.
CHANCE! Ji this time squanders a chance for the visitors! Werner finds Molders, who flicks the ball to Ji. The Korean cuts in but a combination of Sorg and Baumann manage to block his shot from close range. It could be two or three nil.
The crowd are not happy with the referee for what they seem to feel is leniency towards Augsburg in the tackle. The hosts have had two players booked compared to Augsburg's none, and the visitors have got away with a couple.
Augsburg are continuing to threaten on the break. This time Molders holds it up before finding Hahn to his right, but the left-footed shot flies over. At the other end Rosenthal smashes a volley from outside the box, but unfortunately for him it was low and straight at Manninger.
GOAL! Freiburg 1-0 Augsburg (Makiadi)
Freiburg are starting to control this now. They are passing neatly on the edge of the final third, but Augsburg's back line was just about holding firm until Schmid's shot from an angle is parried by Manninger into the path of Makiadi, who taps in.
It's flattering for Freiburg in truth. They probably should have been a couple of goals down and that was the first real chance they have mustered.
So as it stands, Augsburg are not taking advantage of Fortuna Dusseldorf's defeat yesterday and they remain in the relegation playoff spot. There'ss plenty of time for them to change that, though. They're certainly back pressing and still working hard.
Only relegated Greuther Furth have scored fewer goals than Augsburg, though. Today it's their finishing that has let them down - they've created a number of chances but cannot beat Baumann currently.
They haven't had a chance since the goal, however, although they are seeing a lot of the ball. I don't think Freiburg are sitting back as such, but they're second-best today despite their lead.
Molders is found from a deep Werner free kick, but he cannot keep his header down and the ball goes well over. Freiburg are playing hopeful balls at the moment.
SAVE! Fantastic stop from Manninger! Caligiuri finds Schmid with a cross and his header is low and hard into the corner. He wheels away about to celebate but the former Arsenal man has got down to get a strong arm on the ball. From the corner Kruse fires a shot goalwards but it's inches wide!
Makiadi keeps the ball brilliantly in midfield and finds Caligiuri on the left. However, his cross is too deep and Augsburg clear as one minute of time added on is indicated.
HALF-TIME: Freiburg 1-0 Augsburg
It's certainly been a very entertaining half of football. Augsburg looked by far the most likely team to score before Freiburg's goal, but since then the hosts could well have doubled their advantage. A draw might perhaps be more fair, but that's what happens if you don't take your chances.
There's not really a lot the away side can be doing more in order to get themselves back int his. Except change their boots, perhaps. For a team that doesn't score many, you can see why from their performance tonight.
The goal came against the run of play, but it was a nicely worked move. Rosenthal found Schmid from a tight angle in the box and his shot was parried by Manninger straight to Makiadi who tapped in. The Austrian probably should have parried it to safety instead of in front of him, but Schmid's shot was hard so he didn't have a lot of time in fairness.
Freiburg picked up greatly after their goal while Augsburg didn't create another proper chance. With the play both sides have shown at times so far, I would expect to see more goals in the second half.
I would imagine half-time substitutions will be unlikely, given how the game is going. However, I will obviously inform you if either team does make any changes. The players are coming back out now.
FREIBURG SUB: Indeed there is a sub. Mathias Ginter on for the booked Diagne.
KICKOFF: Freiburg get us back underway for the second period.
Sorg finds Kruse on the edge of the box. He holds up the ball before laying across to Schuster, but he is harried off the ball. Bright start, though, for Freiburg.
Augsburg now get some possession together with some nice passing in the midfield. It's Freiburg's turn now to harry and press, though, as Werner's control is poor and he lets the bal run out for a goal kick.
Molders drops deep and plays in Werner over the top. The midfielder does well to keep it in and cross to the far post, which is cleared behind for a corner. Werner takes it and it's headed out to Verhaegh but his shot is blocked and Freiburg eventually get away with a goal kick.
It's more nice passing from Augsburg until Baier's ball in the direction of Hahn is dealt with. At the other end Kruse shoots low left-footed from just outside the box, but it was always going wide of Manninger's goal.
Augsburg are still pressing, but the more they come forward the more dangerous Freiburg are looking on the break.
Good word from Werner down the left. He gets into the box with a stepover before his cross is tipped over by an alert Baumann. The keeper then gets highest to claim Werner's corner. Again Freiburg counter but De Jong wins the ball from Caligiuri with a splendid sliding tackle.
In the last few minutes Freiburg have seen more of the ball as Augsburg seem to be lacking in ideas up front. Hahn is still causing problems running on to long balls, but Freiburg are dealing much more comfortably with the threat of their visitors. De Jong shoots from about 25 yards and, although close, his shot goes wide.
GOAL! Freiburg 2-0 Augsburg (Jonathan Schmid)
The away defence goes missing as Kruse gets the ball with his back to goal, turns and plays in Schmid. The midfielder races towards Manninger and bends it into the bottom corner for surely game over. Werner makes way for Oehrl in an augsburg sub.
SAVE! Manninger stops it being 3-0. Kruse fires in a realy well hit volley from outside the box and Manninger flies across to put it behind. Then from the corner it's cleared off the line from a header! Freiburg in command now.
BOOKING: Ginter sees yellow for pulling back Molders right on the edge of the box. Dangerous spot for a free kick this; it's laid off to De Jong but it's too central and Baumann gets a good fist to clear. Freiburg break but Makiadi's shot is wide.
Makiadi looks for Rosenthal over the top, but Klavan wins the battle for pace and gets in to clear well. Caligiuri gives away a free kick somewhat harshly as Augsburg break. He got the ball, but it was slightly from behind I suppose.
Good ball from Makiadi to Kruse. The striker is shown across the edge of the box on to his weaker right foot, so he spreads right to Rosenthal, whose cross towards Makiadi goes through everyone. Really nice move, that.
Another nicely worked move from Freiburg ends with a shot from Schmid from just outside the box. Manninger is worked again, but his save low to the left was always comfortable.
Augsburg win a free kick again about 25 yards out. De Jong stands over it once more, but this time he cannot beat the wall.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Ivan Santini comes on for Rosenthal, who has worked hard. For Augsburg the brilliantly named Knowledge Musona is on.
Musona gets his first touch, coming deep to find Verhaegh on the right. Augsburg can't get anywhere with the possession and end up having to go back to Manninger.
BOOKING: Callsen-Bracker earns a suspension for his fifth yellow as he hauls down Kruse from behind, who had got the better of him. No complaints, and Freiburg have a dangerous free kick.
SAVE! Kruse went for placement, going to the goalkeeper's side of the wall and the Austrian can push it away. Johannes Flum comes on for Schuster for the hosts.
AUGSBURG SUB: Hain comes on for Molders with time running out.
Oehrl almost pips in, but Makiadi is back from midfield to help out his defence. Freiburg are now passing patiently. There's no need at all to rush their play.
Time wasting tactics in full force now for Freiburg, as Baumann takes the ball right to the corner of his box before picking it up. I think it's safe to say the result is assured.
Augsburg's passing is all off now. They're trying to pass it through the Freiburg defence, but in truth they've not had a real chance since before Freiburg's first.
BOOKING: Santini holds the ball up nicely before laying off to Caligiuri. He gets a long run-up, but blasts his effort well over the bar. Then Hain is booked for bringing down Makiadi.
FULL-TIME: Freiburg 2-0 Augsburg
That's all from me here. Thanks for joining me for this one and be sure to follow my updates from Hamburg vs. Wolfsburg, which kicks off in under 10 minutes. Goodbye.
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
