Freiburg come from behind to beat Augsburg 2-1 with two substitute goals

Augsburg take the lead

Augsburg went ahead in the 18th minute through Michael Gregoritsch, who played for Freiburg from 2022 to 2025 and has been back at Augsburg since January. He finished with a dropkick after a cross from Arijon Ibrahimović on the left, in front of 30,660 spectators. Augsburg controlled much of the first half and went in at the break with the narrow lead. Freiburg struggled to find the final pass against a compact home defence. Freiburg goalkeeper Mio Backhaus then kept out a shot from Gregoritsch, who came close to doubling the lead.

Two substitutes turn the match

Freiburg coach Julian Schuster sent on Igor Matanovic, the club's top scorer, for Lucas Höler after the break. Matanovic equalised in the 66th minute, firing a shot into the left corner after Keisuke Goto's pass and a short touch from Engelhardt, who let the ball run through to him. Augsburg then had to chase the match, and their defence was caught out again in the closing stages. Cyriaque Irié, who had come on for Jan-Niklas Beste, headed the winner in the 86th minute from a Vincenzo Grifo cross, escaping his marker at the second post.

Coaches and captain react

Augsburg coach Manuel Baum spoke in the post-match press conference about the way his side had conceded.

“Most people know me as calm, but today I am really annoyed after the game.”

Baum said Augsburg had played well for long periods but had lost the match through moments that decided it. He said he had raised his voice in the dressing room, that everyone there had felt the same way, and that as coach it was his role to say so. Captain Jeffrey Gouweleeuw, who started a Bundesliga match for the first time this season, identified the lesson for his team.

“We have to learn to kill the game and score the second goal. Then the game is over.”

Context in the table

Augsburg have now failed to win in six consecutive Bundesliga matches, and this was their first home defeat in more than seven months. Freiburg's fifth win in eight league games keeps them third in the table. Both clubs had reached the round of 16 of the German Cup during the week, Augsburg with a 4:2 win at third-tier Großaspach and Freiburg with a 3:2 win over second-tier VfL Wolfsburg. Schuster made seven changes after that cup tie, while Augsburg made four changes to their starting line-up. Freiburg had lost their two previous league matches, against Leverkusen and Bayern.