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| Arne Maier (R) of FC Augsburg challenges Daichi Kamada of Eintracht Frankfurt during the Bundesliga match between FC Augsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt at WWK-Arena on January 16, 2022 in Augsburg, Germany. |
Missing key players isolating with the coronavirus, Eintracht Frankfurt's ambitions to fight for European qualification have been dented as they were held to a 1-1 draw at relegation-threatened Augsburg.
With Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp and winger Filip Kostic both unavailable after positive virus tests, an otherwise drab game on Sunday was enlivened by two moments of individual skill for the goals.
Playmaker Daichi Kamada gave Frankfurt the lead in the 22nd minute when he ran onto a through ball and leaped over goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz before stretching to tap the ball into the net under pressure from a defender.
Michael Gregoritsch then levelled for Augsburg 16 minutes later with a fine finish from a tight angle.
Frankfurt were looking for a morale-boosting win after giving up a two-goal lead and losing 3-2 to Borussia Dortmund last week, but had to settle for a point which keeps them in eighth.
Just five points separate Bayer Leverkusen in third from Mainz in 10th.
Frankfurt's winless start to the new year is a blow to a team who started the season poorly but recovered with wins in six of their last seven Bundesliga games of 2021 to get back into the fight for European qualification.
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| Daichi Kamada #15 of Eintracht Frankfurt celebrate with his team mates Jesper Lindstrøm #29 and Rafael Borré after he scores the opening goal during the Bundesliga match between FC Augsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt at WWK-Arena on January 16, 2022 in Augsburg, Germany. |
Augsburg produced one of the shocks of the season to beat Bayern Munich 2-1 in November but have won only once in seven games since then and sit just above the relegation playoff spot, prompting concerns that their 11-year stay in the top tier could be in jeopardy.
In the day's other game, Arminia Bielefeld climbed past Stuttgart to 16th with a 2-2 draw against last-place Greuther Furth.
Gonzalo Castro rescued a point for Bielefeld with a goal in the 83rd as Furth neared what would have been only their second win since returning to the top flight.
