FC Augsburg welcomed Wolfsburg to the WWK Arena on Sunday afternoon, with the home side looking for a positive result in an otherwise dour season.

The Bavarians had recorded just nine points from 13 games heading into the fixture, but had the chance to move out of the bottom two following Stuttgart's demolition by Borussia Dortmund in the earlier Sunday game.

Wolfsburg weren't able to move anywhere in the table, though they had a chance to move back within five points of second-placed Dortmund with a win.

Cagey opening

The visitors started the game brighter and had two opportunities inside the opening six minutes. Firstly, a Bas Dost knockdown found Vierinha, whose right footed shot was blocked.

From the corner, Bas Dost found space in the centre of the box from Max Arnold's corner, but Marwin Hitz saved as the ball headed for the bottom left corner.

A ninth minute shot from Ja-Cheol Koo failed to trouble Benaglio in the Wolves' goal, while a shot a few minutes later by Guilavogui posed no threat to Augsburg.

There was a moment of excitement in the Wolsburg box in the 18th minute when Cauiby found a moment to shoot, yet he wasted the chance and sent his effort straight into the greatful paws of Benaglio.

Lack of a killer touch

Most efforts in the first half were from distance, and very little tested either goalkeeper. Kruse, Esswein and Vierinha traded shots from outside the box between the 20th and 30th minutes - all went wide.

Marwin Hitz was tested just after the half hour by a drive from Arnold, however he was equal to the effort and parried for a corner.

Just before the break, Augsburg captain Paul Verhaegh wasted a chance inside the box as he shot into the side netting when he should have forced a save at least.

The two sides headed in at 0-0 with both teams having little to shout about in a cagey affair. Markus Weinzierl's team had defended well and frustrated Dieter Hecking's visiting side, but really they will have been looking to turn it into three points in their survival hopes.

It was a day to forget for Dante and his team. (Image credit: kicker)
It was a day to forget for Dante and his team. (Image credit: kicker)

A man who had been quiet in the second half, Andre Schürrle, had a couple of efforts early in the second half. The first - from distance - was easily saved, while the second didn't trouble either.

Bas Dost was the first to make way as he came off for Daniel Caligiuri in the 64th minute with the visitors vying for control.

Diego Benaglio was called into action with 20 minutes left as he parried a Caiuby shot, and a minute later Bobadilla hit a shot wide right from outside the box.

Ja-Cheol Koo was replaced by Dong-Won Ji with fifteen minutes left in the game as the home side began to look for a crucial winner.

Valuable point for the hosts

Naldo, the Wolfsburg central defender, blasted a free kick towards Hitz' goal in the 79th minute, but the 'keeper was equal to it and parried behind.

Caligiuri was inches from giving Wolfsburg a late lead as his curling effort from the left side didn't quite do enough to nip inside the right post.

Dante saw red with just over five minute left for a high boot on Raul Bobadilla, but the question was whether it was too late for Augsburg to make the advantage pay.

After a flurry of late substitutions in this chess match, Daniel Baier shot straight at Benaglio in what would prove to be the last chance of the game.

A deserved and rather stale point for both teams. Augbsurg will have taken positives from their defensive display against a high-octance Wolfsburg side.

However, it was a missed opportunity for both sides. The visitors stay third on 25 points from 14 games, and Augsburg moved to third bottom with their tenth point.

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