Right from the off, the hosts kept Augsburg away from their goal and were very assured in possession themselves. The opening goal via a long-distance shot by Patrik Schick was the logical consequence after 14 minutes. While the visitors failed to register a shot on target in the first half, Emiliano Buendía made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time with a delightful curling strike. Augsburg then had their best period of the game in the middle of the second period, but the Werkself defended comfortably, kept a clean sheet and inflicted a first away defeat of the calendar year on the Bavarians. Read the full match report HERE.
Head coach Xabi Alonso: "It was a better performance, with more energy, structure and seriousness. We had control with and without the ball. That's the path we want to take - and we need our fans for that. For me personally, but also for the team, it's very important that we have an atmosphere as good as today at home."
Jonas Hofmann: "In the first half especially, it was a very focused performance. In the second half we eased off a bit. When we do that, we can't afford to give anything away - but we didn't, either. Overall today we had more energy, were more alert defensively, closed the spaces well and pressed well. When you do all those things, you also end up with a win."
Robert Andrich: "On the whole it was a very sound performance from us and a fully deserved win. We're pleased today, also because we kept a clean sheet. Now it goes on, we want to win the remaining games as well. For us it's a case of ending the season with fun in our play and good team performances."
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The press described the Werkself's home win with adjectives such as "comfortable", "effective" and "deserved". The report from kicker read: "Leverkusen beat Augsburg 2-0 with an unspectacular display. The Werkself switched to game management mode in the second half but were never really put in any danger by FCA." Sky, meanwhile, saw a "very enthusiastic" display and a "deserved home win", Bild "finally Bayer football again". The Rheinische Post awarded Jonathan Tah, Nathan Tella, Emiliano Buendía, Florian Wirtz and Patrik Schick a rating of 2 for their performances.
Schick netted the opening goal of the game for the sixth time in this Bundesliga campaign. It was his 19th goal of the season overall - out of all the players in the major five European leagues with at least three goals, the Czech internationals has needed the fewest minutes per goal on average (74). What's more, he further underlined the Werkself's qualities as fast starters, as they scored in the opening quarter of an hour for the 12th time - no other side in the league have done so more often.
The second goalscorer of the day, Buendía, started a Bundesliga match for the second time and netted his second goal in his last three league appearances.
With 67 points, Bayer 04 have equalled the second-best Bundesliga campaign in the club's history (same as 1999/2000). Only in last year's title-winning season did they have more points after 31 matchdays (81). Alonso's side have also registered clean sheets in three of their last four league matches and conceded just one goal (in the 1-1 draw at St. Pauli) - no other team in the German top flight have let in fewer goals in this period (Werder Bremen also one).
The stats from the meeting are slightly in favour of the reigning double winners: 14-11 attempts, 53 percent possession, 53 percent challenges won and a pass completion rate of one percent more.
Next up for the Werkself is the trip to SC Freiburg on Sunday 4 May, kicking off at 17:30 CEST. That's followed by the final home match of the season against Borussia Dortmund on Sunday 11 May (15:30 CEST). Bayer 04 finish the season away to 1. FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday 17 May (15:30 CEST).
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have loaned U19 midfielder Jeremiah Mensah to Dutch second-tier side Roda JC Kerkrade for one year. The 18-year-old Germany youth international has a long-term contract at the club to 2031.
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Bayer 04 kick off the final phase of their 2026/27 pre-season preparations with a friendly against Premier League club Nottingham Forest. Head coach Carles Martínez’s team will take to the pitch at the City Ground today, Wednesday 12 August (kick-off: 8.45 pm/7.45 pm local time). Werkself-TV will broadcast the match live and in full exclusively for Bayer 04 members via livestream from 8.35 pm...
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed Argentina international Facundo Medina. The defender, who can play both at left-back and in a more central position in the back line, has signed a contract with Bayer 04 to 30 June 2031. The 1.84-metre-tall World Cup runner-up, who will wear the number 2 shirt, joins the club from French top-flight side Olympique de Marseille.
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Villa Fiorito, River Plate, Ligue 1, the World Cup final and now Bayer 04: Facundo Medina’s life story so far has been shaped by special places, clubs, matches and names. One of them is Diego Maradona, who, like Medina, hailed from the south of Buenos Aires. Another is Exequiel Palacios, his former team-mate at River Plate, who was raving about Bayer 04 to him as recently as the World Cup in North America. Medina has now taken the plunge into the Bundesliga and, as an Argentine World Cup runner-up, has joined Bayer 04 from Olympique de Marseille this week. It is set to be the next successful chapter in his career. Leverkusen’s new number 2 brings with him a South American mentality and passion, a wealth of experience from many years in Ligue 1, and a fascinating story to the Rhineland – and to a club where the 1.84-metre-tall left-footed player will be reunited with Palacios and several other familiar faces.
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Shortly after signing his contract with Bayer 04, new signing Facundo Medina spoke to Werkself.tv about his first impressions of the club, his expectations and his conversations with his Argentine compatriot Exequiel Palacios. The defender also reveals what the fans can look forward to. Welcome to Leverkusen, Facu!
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