Hamburger SV have risen to fourth in the Bundesliga with a 2-0 victory over Augsburg.
Hsieh-Min Son and Artjoms Rudnevs scored either side of the break to record their fourth win in six games.
Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look to see if the result was fair.
Match statistics
Augsburg
Shots: 19
On Target: 2
Possession: 46%
Corners: 13
Fouls: 10
Hamburg
Shots: 10
On Target: 4
Possession: 54%
Corners: 3
Fouls: 19
Was the result fair?
Yes. Augsburg did have a couple of decent opportunities, but Hamburg were otherwise resolute. They defended as a team and looked threatening going forward, and the hosts can have no complaints about the final scoreline.
Augsburg's performance
6/10. They huffed and they puffed but ultimately did not have enough to hurt Hamburg. Stephan Hain had a great opportunity to equalise in the first half, but Rene Adler stopped his tame effort with his legs. Tobias Werner then missed a a gilt-edged chance early in the second half, heading wide from Dominik Reinhardt's excellent cross. Both should have resulted in goals and they were punished for their wasteful finishing. Augsburg obviously don't have the kind of quality Thorsten Fink can boast, so it was always going to be a difficult game.
Hamburg's performance
8/10. Thorsten Fink has set his side up very well. They are organised defensively while also carrying a potent goal threat. Arjoms Rudnevs likes to drop deep and link up play with Hsieh-Min Son and Rafael van der Vaart and to good effect. The Latvian supplied Son for the first goal, before getting himself on the scoresheet just after the hour-mark. Maximilian Beister was a menace down the flank, while Tolgay Ali-Arslan and Milan Badelj went about their business efficiently in the centre of the park. It was a very good team performance, especially being away from home. Augsburg rallied at certain points in the game but Hamburg always looked in control.
Referee's performance
Manuel Grafe didn't have much to do tonight, but he was correct in awarding Son a yellow card for diving. The South Korean was looking for a free kick on the edge of the box but Grafe was having none of it. There was minimal contact and he was quite rightly booked.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Artjoms Rudnevs: The Latvian had a brilliant game tonight. He created one and scored one, as well as linking midfield and attack splendidly. The 24-year-old is coming on leaps and bounds in a Hamburg shirt since his move from Lech Poznan.
Biggest gaffe
Tobias Werner should have burst the net with a header three minutes after the break. If Augsburg had have equalised, then the outcome could have been very different.
What's next?
Augsburg: A trip to face Hannover is next up for Augsburg.
Hamburg: Bayern Munich come to town for the 5.30pm kickoff next Saturday.
Michael Penkman
