“It’s time to turn things round,” said FCA CEO Stefan Reuter in reference to FC Augsburg’s record against Bayer 04. Since Augsburg were promoted to the Bundesliga in 2011 there have been 20 meetings with the Werkself – Bayer 04 have not lost once. That run is unique in the history of the Bundesliga. But Reuter could also be referring to the season so far for Augsburg. FCA cannot really be happy with the first two Bundesliga matches. They are the only team in the league without a goal scored so far and the opening match ended with a clear 4-0 defeat at home to Hoffenheim. Nevertheless: Last weekend brought a decent result at Eintracht Frankfurt with the first point picked up in a 0-0 draw. “We’ve taken a step forward,” was the match assessment by coach Markus Weinzierl. “But we know: We have to improve.” Reuter responded to the record against the Werkself: “We have to win.” FCA have managed that once this term: Augsburg beat Greifswalder FC 4-2 in the first round tie in the DFB Cup.
FCA had a number of personnel issues after the Frankfurt game. Two players went off injured – with differing after effects. Midfielder Jan Moravek suffered a serious groin injury and is likely to be sidelined for a while; by contrast, striker Florian Niederlechner was back on the training ground at the start of the week after picking up a cut in the game in Frankfurt and he will be available to face the Werkself. There is a possible problem up front as both Alfred Finnbogason (ankle injury) and Sergio Cordova (muscle problems) have been ruled out recently and it appears they are candidates for the bench at best on Saturday.
Defender Tobias Strobl is definitely ruled out having suffered a ligament injury in the preseason – and the captain and key defender Jeffrey Gouweleeuw may also miss out due to a groin problem. As in Frankfurt, Reece Oxford may play at the centre of defence alongside Felix Uduokhai. The Englishman returned in July after a knee operation and was back on song immediately.
Also available again is new signing Arne Maier on loan from Hertha Berlin. After coming on as a sub in the opener against Hoffenheim, the midfielder missed the Frankfurt game due to a cold but is now back on board. It is very possible he may make his first start for Augsburg against the Werkself.
As soon as Maier is fully fit, he will be in the centre of the park as when he led Germany to win the U21 European Championships in the summer. In addition to Maier, Germany’s Euro captain, FCA pulled off another coup on the transfer market by signing Niklas Dorsch, one of the outstanding players at the tournament. Maier and Dorsch could form a new central midfield partnership – with qualities both in attack and defence. As soon as the captain Gouweleeuw returns, Augsburg can then build on a very strong defence with the outstanding keeper of last season Rafal Gikiewicz backing them up.
The fact FCA are the only team in the league yet to score this term is not a complete surprise. Weinzierl’s team have failed to pose a real threat to the opposition nets in 180 minutes. On the first two matchdays, Augsburg had the lowest number of shots on goal (11) in the league and created the least clear-cut chances (1). Of course: Numbers like that are not that conclusive so early in the season but the coach Weinzierl is also aware of the problem and he declared: “We have to be braver.”
The start to the season has not gone to plan but over the long term Augsburg should have enough to stay in the top flight. The squad has been strengthened in the right positions; new signing Dorsch has the potential to have an impact on the team. If he can join up with Maier and produce the goods to pose more of threat in attack then everything should work out for the best in the twelfth year in the Bundesliga.
Two Saturdays, one Friday and one Sunday: The dates for the Bayer 04 Women's team games on matchdays 16 to 19 have been finalised. Three of the four matches scheduled by the German Football Association (DFB) on Tuesday will be played at home at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium.
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Despite a courageous display, the Bayer 04 Women missed out on a surprise at the start of the second half of the Bundesliga season. Coach Roberto Pätzold's team lost 3-0 to league leaders Bayern Munich on Monday night. An early goal from the clinical visitors, a disputed penalty and another spot-kick prevented Leverkusen, who are seventh in the table on 22 points from 14 games, from picking up a point in front of 3,011 spectators at the sold-out Ulrich Haberland Stadium.
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The Werkself rang in the Black and Red festive season with an emotional visit to Klinikum Leverkusen. Kristin Kögel, Melissa Friedrich and Louisa Remien from the Bayer 04 Women's team and Jonas Hofmann, Janis Blaswich and Niklas Lomb from the first team visited the young patients on the children's ward and, for the first time, on the ‘Zeitinsel’ children's palliative care unit. They brought a host of lovingly wrapped presents ensuring a big surprise for young and old alike.
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Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...
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