Battle for third to go to the wire as BVB draw 1-1 in Augsburg

Boris Rupert reports

The 30,660 spectators at a sold-out WWK Arena in Augsburg witnessed a tense encounter in which Borussia dominated possession but rarely got themselves into dangerous positions. The hosts played a counter-attacking game and broke the deadlock through Finnbogason in the 28th minute, before Aubameyang restored parity with his 29th league goal of the campaign four minutes later. The Gabon international, Guerreiro and Reus all spurned chances to win the game for the Black and Yellows in the closing stages as Augsburg held on for a draw.

The scenario: 
13th-placed Augsburg went into this game just two points above the relegation play-off place, while third-placed Borussia held a two-point lead over Champions League rivals Hoffenheim in fourth. BVB had only dropped two points in five league visits to the WKK Arena – in a goalless draw in 2011/12.

Personnel matters: 
Thomas Tuchel made only one change to the starting XI that beat Hoffenheim 2-1 last week, with Kagawa replacing the suspended Castro, who was joined in the stands by Sahin (match fitness), Schürrle (ankle) and Götze (metabolic disorder). In addition to Koo (knee) and Moravek (thigh), Augsburg were without goalkeeper Hitz (hip problem), so former Bochum man Luthe made his FCA debut between the sticks.

Tactics: 
As did they against Hoffenheim, BVB lined up with three at the back and two centre-forwards (Aubameyang and Reus). Weigl built the play as the sole defensive midfielder, while Kagawa, who played in the centre of a four-man attacking midfield alongside Dembélé, pulled the strings in the middle of the park. The Frenchman, meanwhile, was given freedom to roam and show his creative flair, while Piszczek and Guerreiro lined up on the flanks. BVB were in a 3-1-4-2 system, while Augsburg defended with two compact banks of four with a defensive midfielder in between (4-1-4-1) and switched to a 4-2-3-1 when they had the ball.

The match & analysis:
Borussia enjoyed 75 percent possession in the first quarter of the match but rarely ever got into dangerous positions. Only on two occasions were the hosts left scrambling in their own penalty area: following a challenge between Verhaegh and Kagawa in the fourth minute, and a Dembélé cross that missed both Aubameyang and Guerreiro three minutes later.

The best chance in the opening stages fell to the Swabians, whose tactical approach was to wait for their opponents to make mistakes and subsequently counter at speed. In one such instance, Max broke free down the left flank in the 17th minute and picked out Finnbogason on the corner of the six-yard box with an early cross, but Bürki smothered the Iceland international's effort from an unmarked position.

Weigl stretchered off, Aubameyang restores parity

That scare was followed by another in the form of an injury to Julian Weigl three minutes later, with the young midfielder suffering a nasty injury to his foot in a challenge before being stretchered off the pitch with his face contorted in pain. Durm came on in his stead, with Ginter moving forward into Weigl's position. Perhaps it was these tactical changes that knocked the Black and Yellows out of their rhythm and allowed Augsburg to break the deadlock with some rather simple football soon afterwards. Goalkeeper Luthe lofted the ball forward towards Max, who controlled it beautifully and continued his run down the left before firing a shot at Bürki's goal. The Swiss shot-stopper could only get a hand to the ball and parried it into the path of Finnbogason, who slotted home the opener (28).

With Hoffenheim already 2-0 ahead in Bremen, Finnbogason's goal moved Borussia Dortmund down to fourth place in the as-it-stands table, but the visitors levelled the scores four minutes later to climb back up to third. Dembélé played the ball down the right to Durm, whose fizzing cross was cleared by Verhaegh into the path of Kagawa. The Japan international's shot from 18 metres out was steered over the line and past the powerless Luthe by Aubameyang, who had been lurking in the six-yard box.  

Most of the subsequent action took place in Augsburg's half, but BVB were rarely able to break down their resolute defensive rearguard. In first-half stoppage time Dembélé crossed the ball in towards Aubameyang, but Verhaegh did enough to put him off and the forward's header sailed wide of the mark.

The Black and Yellows started the second period in much the same way they had finished the first, dominating possession without ever really finding the gaps in the Augsburg back line. Dembélé and Aubameyang both got shots away, but their efforts in the 53rd and 56th minutes respectively were unsuccessful. Hoffenheim's 5-0 lead in Bremen brought about additional pressure, as at that stage both teams were level on points and only separated in the table by one goal.

Given their respective league positions, both teams were understandably risk-averse and goulmouth action was initially scarce. There were occasional incidents of note, however, such as when Luthe clawed Aubameyang's header away following Kagawa's cross (61) and when Guerreiro's shot from Reus' cross was blocked by Hinteregger on the edge of the box at the last second (71).

Luthe denies Aubameyang, Reus strikes side-netting

For the last ten minutes of match Pulisic entered the fray and took up a position on the right flank, while Durm replaced Guerreiro on the left. Seconds later Luthe came to FCA's rescue as he fished a Kagawa ball away from Aubameyang with the forward lurking in a dangerous position (81), before Reus fired the Japan midfielder's assist into the side-netting two minutes later.

Prospects: 
The 34th and final matchday of the 2016/17 season sees Borussia Dortmund face Werder Bremen at home next Saturday at 15:30 CET. That game will be followed by the DFB Cup final in Berlin against Eintracht Frankfurt on 27 May.

Teams & goals