FC Augsburg travelled to Lower Saxony to take on Hannover 96 at the HDI-Arena for this midweek, Matchday 16 tie in the Bundesliga. In the same game last season, the hosts came from behind to beat Die Fuggerstädter two goals to one. Szabolcs Huszti with a last minute penalty, after a Paul Verhaegh penalty had been cancelled out by Artur Sobiech.
Tayfun Korkut's side have been in dreadful form as of late, with only one point from the last fifteen available. Die Roten's last victory came all the way back at the start of November, a 2-0 victory away in the capital against Hertha Berlin. With that in mind, Korkut made two changes to his sides starting eleven; Christian Schulz and Ceyhun Gülselam replaced by Salif Sané and Maurice Hirsch. In their last outing, Hannover surrendered the lead twice as they drew with Werder Bremen at the Weserstadion, 3-3.
It's been a brilliant season so far for Markus Weinzierl and FC Augsburg, as the club look to achieve European qualification for the first time in their history. The side from Schwaben-Bavaria have taken 12 points from the last 15 available; but the weekend saw a humbling 4-0 defeat at home to Bayern Munich. In response, Weinzierl slightly altered the starting eleven bringing in Alexander Esswein for Tobias Werner.
It was a frantic start as both sides had some early pressure, but it would be the visitors that would challenge the opposite 'keeper first. Ron-Robert did well to save from Alexander Esswein and Paul Verhaegh.
However for all of FC Augsburg's early chances it would be Die Roten who would break the deadlock in the 20th minute, with a header from Salif Sané after Hiroshi Kiyotake corner kick. Hannover by this point in the game had already had numerous corners but this time the Senegalese defender made it count, beating Alex Manninger in the Augsburg goal. Sané looked to know nothing off the goal, as the ball rebounded of the back of the big defenders head; somehow looping into the far corner of the goal.
The goal seemed to spark Die Roten into life and they'd go close to doubling their lead just one minute after they had broken the deadlock. A long range effort from summer signing, Jimmy Briand looked destined for the goal; but the Austrian veteran in the away side's goal kept the French forwards effort at bay.
Markus Weinzierl's side failed to take back the initiative, and instead it turned into a scrappy, fiery affair with numerous fouls breaking up the play. Die Fuggerstädter had the majority of the possession, but if anything Tayfun Korkut's side looked the more likely to add to their solitary goal.
The hosts came out all guns blazing in the second half and put the visitors under extreme pressure; which they couldn't weather. A loose ball in the box was challenged by both sides number ten, Daniel Baier and Joselu. The FC Augsburg captain slid in, but was adjudged to have taken the man before ball; penalty to Die Roten. Second inspection showed that referee, Christian Dingert was indeed correct. Up stepped the Spaniard, Joselu who sent Manninger the wrong way and doubled his sides advantage. A long way back for Die Fuggerstädter.
Hannover looked to have added a further goal in the 66th minute as Kiyotake beat Manninger from a tight angle. However the linesman flagged for offside, but this time the officials looked to have gotten it wrong as Ragnar Klavan was playing the Japanese international onside.
The away side went close around the 75th minute as Raul Bobadilla latched on to a long ball, but Zieler saved well from the Argentines effort. Despite this chance, Die Fuggerstädter never looked likely to reduce the deficit as Hannover looked dominant throughout.
The result sees Hannover move up a place into 8th spot, leap-frogging Eintracht Frankfurt. For FC Augsburg the past two performances have been poor and it has certainly seen an end to their good run of form; tonight's result sees them remain in 5th place but others have games in hand on Markus Weinzierl's side. For Hannover last game in the 'Hinrunde' is a trip to Breisgau to face SC Freiburg. For FC Augsburg it's a home tie against Borussia Mönchengladbach.