A Sebastian Polter brace earned Bochum all three points at Augsburg, despite a spirited second-half fightback almost earning Augsburg something following a half-time three-goal deficit.

Augsburg 2-3 Bochum
Goals: 0-1 Polter 22' (assist: Asano), 0-2 Holtmann (40'), 0-3 Polter 45'+3 (assist: Löwen), 1-3 Gregoritsch 58' (assist: Caligiuri), 2-3 Caligiuri (pen. 86')

Ruben Vargas was restored to his habitual position out on the Augsburg left and that was unsurprisingly the principle source of the home team's attacks. The first danger came from the right, however, with Raphael Framberger's cross met on the volley by Andre Hahn, who struck the ball straight at Michael Esser. Polter flashed Bochum's first effort of the game wide of the left-hand upright. Bochum were posing a threat on the break and wasted no time pouncing on a mistake in midfield with Takuma Asano threading the ball through for Polter, who nutmegged Rafal Gikiewicz as he entered the penalty area. Hahn missed a glorious chance to level before Bochum doubled their lead out of nothing. Gerrit Holtmann connected perfectly with a corner from the left to send an unstoppable shot past Gikiewicz. Worse was to follow for Augsburg when Andi Zeqiri had to be replaced by Michael Gregoritsch due to injury five minutes before the interval, and as if that were not already enough for the Bavarians, Polter headed in a third from Eduard Löwen's corner on the stroke of half-time.

Having conceded two from corners, Augsburg showed their own strength from such a set piece and pulled a goal back when Gregoritsch headed in a Daniel Caligiuri corner. Less than a minute later, half-time substitute Jan Moravek sent the ball over an open goal from point-blank range as Augsburg missed the chance to reduce the arrears further. Another mistake in midfield allowed Holtmann a clean run on Gikiewicz's goal, but he was unable to turn the screw as he fired wide. It was a huge let-off for Augsburg and one they almost capitalised on immediately with Vargas and Hahn both going agonisingly close, before Caligiuri's effort was turned behind. Vargas missed another gilt-edged chance before Sergio Cordova missed the best opening yet, blazing over with just Esser to beat. With a helping hand from Cedric Soares, who climbed all over Florian Niederlechner inside the penalty area, Caligiuri cut the deficit to one goal heading into the final five minutes, but for all their efforts the Bavarians could not find an equaliser as Bochum held on.

Match stats

• Bochum scored more than two goals in a game for the first time this season.
• Polter's brace was his first in his 77th Bundesliga appearance.
• Augsburg have scored four goals from corners this season – more than any other Bundesliga club; Bochum, meanwhile, scored their first two goals of the season from corners – the first Augsburg have conceded this term.
• Augsburg lost at home again for the first time after a run of four games unbeaten.
• The last time Augsburg were 3-0 down at home at half-time, they also came back to lose 3-2 (against Cologne in April 2021).

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Line-ups

Augsburg: Gikiewicz – Framberger, Gumny, Winther, Iago – Caligiuri, Maier (Moravek 46'), Dorsch, Vargas (Niederlechner 80') – Hahn (c) (Cordova 80'), Zeqiri (Gregoritsch 41')
Unused subs: Koubek, Pedersen, Gruezo, Jensen, Salifou
Out: Finnbogason (thigh), Gouweleeuw (not included), Oxford (muscular), Sarenren Bazee (knee), Strobl (knee), Uduokhai (thigh)
Coach: Markus Weinzierl

Bochum: Esser – Stafylidis, Masovic, Lampropoulos, Soares – Löwen (Tesche 79'), Losilla, Rexhbecaj (Leitsch 89') – Asano (Pantovic 61'), Polter (Ganvoula 79'), Holtmann (Antwi-Adjei 79')
Unused subs: Grave, Gamboa, Blum, Bockhorn
Out: Decarli (shoulder), Osterhage (muscular), Riemann (thigh), Zoller (knee)
Coach: Thomas Reis

About the clubs

VfL Bochum 1848

Vonovia Ruhrstadion

FC Augsburg

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