“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.
With 22 days to go until the start of the Bundesliga campaign, the Bayer 04 Women’s team have gained a fresh boost of confidence. In a friendly against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk on Saturday afternoon, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team secured a 1–0 win. Lobke Loonen (20’) scored the winner for the Black and Reds at the Kurtekotten training centre.
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A successful fourth preseason friendly ahead of the start of the training camp: The Werkself secured a 3-0 victory over Rot-Weiss Essen at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The goals in what was a commanding and dominant performance by Leverkusen from the outset were scored by Ibrahim Maza (8'), Patrik Schick from the penalty spot (23’) and, in the second half, Montrell Culbreath with a header (79’). The team set off for their training camp in Blankenhain in the Weimarer Land region after the game.
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Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personal Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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You have voted – your ‘Team of the Quarter-Century’ has been decided! This historic selection, covering the period from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2024, features honorary captains, Bundesliga champions, double winners and Champions League finalists. Edmond Tapsoba is the only player from the current Bayer 04 squad to make it into the starting XI, while his team-mate Patrik Schick is on the bench. Simon Rolfes, the current managing director sport, is also in the lie-up. A truly special team that brings together a quarter of a century of Bayer 04 history – and has left a decisive mark on the club.
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Following Patrik Schick, Mark Flekken, Ibrahim Maza and Kerim Alajbegovic earlier this week, the next World Cup participant is back on the training ground in Leverkusen: On Thursday 30 July, Malik Tillman rejoined the squad, completing his first training session under head coach Carles Martínez.
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