FC Ingolstadt were victors in the battle for bragging rights on Saturday afternoon, with Mathew Leckie proving to be the match-winner against FC Augsburg.

Stuttering start brightened up by Suttner

With it being a local rivalry, there was no surprise that the game was a physical one. Jeong-Ho Hong fired a free-kick over, in what was the only real attempt. Caiuby also saw yellow within the opening exchanges, perhaps unfortunate given the other early tackles that had flown in.

The dead-ball seemed to be the best route to the opponent's goal for both sides and after Tobias Werner slid the ball just past the post, Ingolstadt rattled the woodwork. Markus Suttner stepped up from 25 yards out and curled an excellent free-kick towards goal, only to see it bounce back out off the underside of the bar.

Benjamin Hübner headed over from closer range soon after, as die Schanzer showed just why they were so impressive against Mainz. Caiuby, against his former club, flashed a late effort wide but Ramazan Özcan was under no real pressure to let it slip out for a goal-kick.

The best chance of the half was also the last and it required Marwin Hitz to make a snappy save low to his right. Pascal Groß exploited the deep defensive line to play through Moritz Hartmann, only to see his effort magnificently turned around the post by the Swiss stopper.

Leckie's wonder-goal proves the difference

Werner, who was the bright spark in the first half for the hosts, had a glorious opportunity to give them the lead. He ballooned over the bar from six yards out after Paul Verhaegh's cross had been missed by everyone else in the area. They were made to pay for missing that chance, too.

Mathew Leckie has always had a spark about him but this strike was simply next level. He cut inside from the right wing and beat two men with stepovers and from 20 yards out rocketed a shot towards the top corner. It swerved and then arrowed past the helpless Hitz, who barely had time to react let alone try get his hands to the shot.

Augsburg responded and rattled the post themselves with 20 minutes to go. Werner's free-kick avoided the attentions of everyone and came back off the upright, and was eventually hacked clear by the under-pressure Ingolstadt defence. The hosts continued to attack in search of an equaliser but they couldn't break down the stubborn Ingolstadt back-line. That was how it stayed, and die Schanzer were victorious on derby day.

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About the author
Jonathan Walsh
SoccerSight IFA commentator. VAVEL deputy editor-in-chief/VAVEL Bundesliga editor-in-chief and writer. Email: [email protected]