
Xabi Alonso made five changes to the team that started last week’s 1-1 draw at St. Pauli, including Matej Kovar in goal. Augsburg had lost only one of their last 14 Bundesliga games but were unable to get to grips with Leverkusen’s fluid movement and passing.
The reigning champions got their reward after just 14 minutes when Granit Xhaka, Florian Wirtz and Nathan Tella combined before setting up Schick, who fired the ball – via a slight deflection – under the crossbar for his 19th goal of the campaign. The ball was in the Augsburg net again 10 minutes later when Tella headed in a Wirtz cross, but it was ruled out for offside. The Werkself kept playing their game but lacked the final ball in their search for a second. That finally came in the first minute of added time when Buendia came inside from the left and picked out the far bottom corner with a curling effort.







The hosts kept up the pressure after the restart and had the first effort of the second half through Wirtz. Augsburg’s best chance fell to Samuel Essende, who failed to hit the target from a tight angle. Further opportunities came and went for Alexis Claude-Maurice and Phillip Tietz without really testing Kovar. At the other end, substitute Jonas Hofmann had a crack and Amine Adli had a headed effort off the bench as well as the game ended with three deserved points for Leverkusen.







Bayer 04’s next game takes them to Freiburg a week on Sunday at 5.30pm CEST. The final home fixture of the season is then against Borussia Dortmund the following Sunday at 3.30pm. The curtain comes down on the campaign in Mainz the Saturday after that.
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Kovar - Arthur (Frimpong 86'), Tah, Tapsoba - Tella (Hincapie 63'), Andrich, Xhaka, Grimaldo - Wirtz (Garcia 82'), Buendía (Hofmann 63') - Schick (Adli 63')
Augsburg: Dahmen - Matsima, Gouweleeuw, Zesiger - Wolf (Koudossou 55'), Jakic, Onyeka, Giannoulis (Gumny 55') - Rexhbecaj (Kömür 55'), Claude-Maurice (Jensen 81') - Essende (Tietz 71')
Goals: 1-0 Schick (14'), 2-0 Buendia (45'+1)
Yellow cards: Zesiger
Referee: Christian Dingert
Attendance: 29,563 at the BayArena

With seven points, Mainz 05 are currently joint seventh, level on points with sixth-placed Bayer 04. In today’s head-to-head clash (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself must be particularly wary of the clinical Mainz strike duo. For Leverkusen fans who have left it to the last minute, there are still a few tickets available from the matchday ticket office. Those following the Black and Reds from home, on the other hand, have a choice: RTL is broadcasting the match on free-to-air TV, and Werkself Radio is also offering the expert commentary of former Bayer 04 player Falko Götz. Today’s matchday news.
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Back from the international break: On Saturday 10 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself are away to Mainz 05. Ahead of the clash at the MEWA ARENA against the side currently sixth in the table, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about the team’s work during the extended international break. The Spaniard also commented, when asked, on a number of squad matters, including Ibrahim Maza.
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FSV Mainz 05 went into the international break on the back of an away win at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Currently sixth in the table, the Rheinhessen side – who have been impressive on the road – now aim to continue their good start to the Bundesliga campaign at home when they face the Werkself on Saturday, 10 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST). In terms of squad selection, Urs Fischer once again has more options at his disposal. Up front, the Mainz coach is likely to continue relying on what is currently the league’s most successful strike partnership. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Thomas Eichin has been working for Bayer 04 for six years – as Director of Professional Teams since July 2023 – and has contributed to the successful development of our club in many areas. Today, Friday 9 October, Freiburg-born Eichin is celebrating his 60th birthday. We wish him a very happy birthday.
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Together with his family, friends and close associates, Bayer 04 Leverkusen bid farewell to Peter Hermann. The club’s long-serving assistant manager passed away on 19 September following a serious illness. Today, Thursday 8 October, Bayer 04 held an event attended by around 200 invited guests to commemorate Peter Hermann’s legacy. Representatives from the DFB and the other professional clubs where Hermann worked paid their respects to him at the BayArena.
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