Werkself Review #B04FCA: Calm and effective

Summary: Schick and Buendía strike before the break

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.

Reaction: 'Sound performance, fully deserved win'

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."

What the papers say: 'Finally Bayer football again'

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.

Personnel: Schick's impressive scoring rate

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.

Stats: Defensively solid with more shots

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.

Looking ahead: Freiburg away then Dortmund at home

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).