Freiburg’s stalemate in Augsburg deny a Bundesliga record | OneFootball

SC Freiburg started the game knowing a win would put them level on points with third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt. That outcome would also set a new Bundesliga record making it the first time for all visiting teams to come away three points on a single matchday. Meanwhile, Jesse Thorup’s Augsburg side already created a 14-point gap between them and the relegation zone.

Understandably, both coaches picked the same starting XIs from matchday 23. Alexis Claude Maurice’s first career hat-trick sealed a 3-0 win for Augsburg away at 10-men Borussia Mönchengladbach, while Freiburg scored five past Werder Bremen on Friday night.

Unfortunately, apart from Augsburg’s three corner-kicks inside the first three minutes, there was very little attacking intent from both sides. That was until Freiburg’s in-form keeper Noah Atubolu made the first save of the game in the 25th minute by forcing Frank Onyeka’s attempt onto the crossbar.

Moments later, Dimitris Giannoulis followed it with Augsburg’s second chance as the hosts started to control proceedings. Freiburg, who won each of their last four games without conceding a goal, created their first half-chance through Vincenzo Grifo at the half-hour mark.

However, the Bavarians continued to ask questions as they were also looking for a fourth successive clean sheet. The Greek left-back Giannoulis had another scoring chance, but his volley from an acute angle went over the bar.

At the end of the first-half, Augsburg led 8-1 on shots, with Atubolu having to make three saves. But, it was Finn Dahmen who sets a new club record early in the second-half when the 26-year-old became the first Augsburg goalkeeper to not concede a goal over 400 minutes.

Meanwhile, the momentum is still with his team as Phillip Tietz caught in two minds inside the penalty box. Freiburg finally managed their first shot on target, but Merlin Röhl’s attempt was hardly a test for Augsburg’s record-maker.

That wasn’t the case when Jan-Niklas Beste nearly scored less than a minute after coming on, though. Röhl sets Freiburg’s winter signing one-on-one with Dahmen, but Heidenheim’s ex-star was thwarted by the shot-stopper.

From then on, the Champions League hopefuls had the momentum, but they were unable to force a Bundesliga record of all away wins on a matchday. Matthias Ginter, who shrugged off a first-half injury, had the best chance of the lot before Augsburg nearly stole it on the death. Steve Mounié was denied a first Bundesliga goal by a woodwork.

Both teams extended their clean sheets records. Meanwhile, matchday 24 shared the previous record – matchday 6 in 2019/20 – with 8 away wins and a draw.