Commencing the gameweek on top of the relegation play-off trapdoor, albeit only playing five matches, the visitors looked motivated from the off, as Jiri Pavlenka had to be alert to prevent Florian Niederlechner from opening his Bundesliga goalscoring account for the season.
Hoping to continue their momentum in front of goal, after scoring twice in the wake of the 85th-minute mark against VfL Bochum (2-0), Bremen began to weather their visitors’ attacking storm.
Yet to register a league victory in front of the Werderaner faithful this season, the hosts were dealt a blow shortly before the half-hour mark when Pavlenka’s match was prematurely ended due to injury, allowing substitute goalkeeper Michael Zetterer to enter the Weserstadion pitch for his maiden Bundesliga bow.
Against the run of play, the hosts thought they were ahead in the 31st minute from Niclas Fullkrug’s stooping header, however, VAR came to the visitors’ rescue, instructing referee Martin Petersen to overturn his initial decision after discovering an offside in the build-up.
Beginning the campaign with the third-worst five-match opening sequence to a league season, after accumulating only the solitary point, the visitors forced Zetterer into his first significant saves in a Bremen goalkeeper jersey to begin the second half.
Looking to consolidate an easily-penetrated defence this season, in pursuit of their first home clean sheet in the league, the hosts responded well to another attacking opening serenade, as their three-man central defensive partnership remained unbeaten.
However, the hosts were helpless in preventing Demirovic from tapping Mergim Berisha’s enticing cross past Zetterer in the 63rd minute to give his side an arguably deserving lead.
Following on from his assist, Berisha was not far away from securing Augsburg’s victory when his effort came back off the crossbar.
Nonetheless, Gikiewicz’s stoppage-time penalty heroics denied Ducksch from the spot, as Augsburg remain in pole position to reduce the pressure on manager Enrico Maassen.
Meanwhile, Werder Bremen suffered their first back-to-back home league defeats since their return to the pinnacle of German football.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Mergim Berisha (FC Augsburg)