Bierofka was moved up to coach the first team, and Awata was among the dozen players he brought up with him.[12] He made his first-team debut on September 23, replacing Markus Ziereis in the late minutes of a win against Unterföhring. He scored his first goal in his second match, a 4–1 victory over Bayreuth on the final matchday of the season. He also added two assists as Munich finished as league champions and earned promotion into the 3.