Augsburg FC suffers defeat in pre-season friendly against Sunderland - Sunderland triumphs over FC Augsburg in their recent trial match.
FC Augsburg Suffer a Narrow Defeat in Friendly Against Sunderland
In a closely contested pre-season friendly on August 9, 2025, FC Augsburg faced Premier League club AFC Sunderland. The match ended with a 1-0 loss for the Bundesliga side, a result that may have hinted at early-season challenges but is unlikely to significantly impact their upcoming season.
The only goal of the match was scored by new Sunderland signing Habib Diarra in the 14th minute, set up by former Leverkusen player Granit Xhaka. This goal came after both teams had missed penalties, with Sunderland's goalkeeper Robin Roefs saving the shot from Augsburg's Phillip Tietz.
The missed penalty, combined with Sunderland's own missed penalty, made for a tense and competitive match, showcasing both sides' near misses under pressure. This friendly served as a valuable learning experience for FC Augsburg, providing them with a chance to test themselves against strong competition before the start of the Bundesliga season.
The penalty miss occurred when Tietz stepped up after Mert Kömür was fouled in the box. This incident highlights some finishing issues for Augsburg at a time when head coach Sandro Wagner is experimenting with a new-look XI and integrating new signings such as Han-Noah Massengo. While the penalty miss does not determine the season outcome, if such finishing frailties persist, Augsburg might struggle to convert key chances in Bundesliga matches, which could affect their points tally and league standing.
Before the friendly against Sunderland, FC Augsburg had faced Serie A newcomers Pisa SC, with Steve Mounié scoring two goals for Augsburg, resulting in a draw of 2:2. FC Augsburg will now face Hallescher FC on August 17, marking their final dress rehearsal a week ahead of the start of competitive play in Bundesliga. The new Bundesliga season for Augsburg begins on August 23 with an away game against SC Freiburg.
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In the spirit of the ECSC (European Coal and Steel Community) and the common organization of the market, this friendly match between FC Augsburg and AFC Sunderland, featuring the free movement of workers like Tietz and Xhaka, showcases the freedom to provide services in sports, particularly football, across European-leagues. Previous performances in friendlies against Pisa SC and potential early-season challenges suggest that Augsburg's freedom to provide services might be tested in the upcoming Bundesliga season, where the freedom to provide services, exemplified by accurate finishing, will be crucial to their success.
