Table topping FC Ingolstadt 04 travelled to the Erzgebirgsstadion to take on Erzgebirge Aue in the 2. Bundesliga.

It was a scrappy start to the game, with neither side grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck. The problems each side were facing were evident to see - die Veilchen despite keeping the ball well, were lacking a final product, perhaps as to why they find themselves in a relegation battle. For die Schanzer the problem was also in attack, without key men Matthew Leckie and Pascal Groß, Ralph Hasenhüttl's side looked devoid of ideas in the final third, despite pressing the hosts well.

Hasenhüttl's side however did muster the first effort of the game - Lukas Hinterseer flicking on a loose ball from a previous corner, that beat Martin Männel in the Aue goal; however it was a tame effort an was easily clearing by the Veilchen defence. 

On a sour note, in the 25th minute Nils Miatke had to be stretchured off with muscular injury; the German midfielder was replaced by Mike Könnecke.

It was a really none descript half. die Schanzer had the majority of the ball, but as with the hosts, the final ball wasn't good enough. The hosts were also stifling a lot of the visitors attacks, cynically fouling any Ingolstadt breakaways from deep. Despite early promise it was a very poor opening forty five from Tomislav Stipić's side, with no real efforts for Ramazan Özcan to deal with.

Despite the lack of action, FC Ingolstadt nearly took the lead on the stroke of half time; Stefan Lex latching on to a Alfredo Morales through ball, but the former Greuther Fürth man's effort lacked sufficient power to beat Männel.

It was a similar sloppy start to the second period, with neither side again keeping the ball well enough and on numerous occasions gifting the ball to the opposite team through unforced errors. 

Once again chances were few and far between and save for a few half chances for either side; neither side looked likely to take the lead. Benjamin Hübner was the second casualty of the game, suffering an impact injury. Club captain Marvin Matip replaced the man signed from VfR Aalen.

During the course of the game, die Schanzer had looked the more likely to open the scoring and the eventual goal would reflect this, in the 65th minute. Winter signing Thomas Pledl lofted a ball into the Aue box which Vladimir Rankovic met, but only as far as Stefan Lex who swivelled and beat Männel. 

The goal sparked the visitors into life and only two minutes later Hasenhüttl's side nearly extended their lead; second half sub Pascal Groß playing in goal scorer Lex, but this time Männel did well and denied the Ingolstadt attacker.

Die Schanzer were on top and a second goal loomed, which would eventually come in the 77th minute. Pascal Groß, archetypal to all things good for Ingolstadt, whipped in a freekick from wide, which American Alfredo Morales rose to meet and beat Männel at the near post - to send Schanzer two goals to the good.

FC Ingolstadt would end of the game with a final goal; Pascal Groß, once again, was fouled in the box leaving referee Michael Weiner no option but to award die Schanzer a penalty. Up stepped Moritz Hartmann, who cooly dispatched past Männel. The goal was the final piece of action, in an eventual comfortable win for tabl topping FC Ingolstadt.

Up next for Tomislav Stipić's side is a trip to VfR Aalen, whilst Ralph Hasenhüttl and FC Ingolstadt welcome Karlsruhe to the Audi Sportpark.

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About the author
Alex Howell
A writer of football related words. A Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga enthusiast and the only English member of FC Ingolstadt 04 and current producer of content for the official site. Thanks for visiting my profile. Find my twitter @Bundesliga_UK