Head coach Xabi Alonso made four changes from last week’s 4-1 friendly win over Venezia. Captain Lukas Hradecky returned in goal for Matej Kovar, while Josip Stanisic, Jeremie Frimpong and Jonas Hofmann came in for Nathan Tella, Florian Wirtz and Jonathan Tah, who was a yellow card away from a suspension ahead of the match. In freezing temperatures in Bavaria, the game began with a Leverkusen attack as Frimpong crossed from the right, but defender Kevin Mbabu cleared the danger. The hosts had their first opportunity 10 minutes later as Fredrik Jensen failed to capitalise after a defensive misunderstanding. A double chance for Alejandro Grimaldo and Adam Hlozek again provided the Werkself with opportunities to go ahead.
After initial struggles with Augsburg’s aggressive play, Alonso’s men began to take control. Shortly after the double chance, Patrik Schick was presented with one of his own. Making his 100th appearance for Bayer 04, the Czech striker was found by a long ball from Granit Xhaka, tried to round goalkeeper Finn Dahmen but was unable to force the ball over the line. A long-range effort from Grimaldo crashed off the crossbar as Leverkusen maintained the pressure and at one stage reached 75 percent possession. Further headed efforts from Schick and Robert Andrich failed to sit as it remained goalless at the break.
Both teams resumed unchanged, but it was Augsburg who had the first opportunity after the restart through captain Ermedin Demirovic, who put his effort wide. Palacios did similar at the other end with a shot from distance after being played in by Frimpong. A planted Xhaka header from a Hofmann cross then swerved narrowly wide of the post. With the Werkself seemingly unable to crack this tough Augsburg defence, Alonso threw on playmaker Wirtz for some added impetus.
Although the scoreline was level, the game soon started to open up. Frimpong had a crack and Piero Hincapie tried his luck with a header before Wirtz found the side netting – all in quick succession. At the other end, Philipp Tietz was played in and knocked the ball beyond Hradecky and in, but the flag was immediately raised for offside. It remained goalless despite the best efforts of the league leaders. The Augsburg defence continued to throw themselves in the way and Dahmen was equal to everything thrown at him. And when it looked like everyone was going to have to settle for a 0-0, Grimaldo delivered the ball from the left into the box, where Palacios reacted quickest to fire home his shot four minutes into added time, earning Leverkusen a hard-fought victory to restore their four-point advantage at the summit over Bayern Munich with half the season gone.
The second half of the Bundesliga season officially begins next week as Bayer 04 visit RB Leipzig for Saturday’s late kick-off (20 January, 18:30 CET).
Match stats:
Augsburg: Dahmen – Mbabu, Gouweleeuw, Uduokhai, Iago – Dorsch, Rexhbecaj (Gumny 88') – Vargas (Maier 62'), Demirovic (Beljo 80'), Jensen (Engels 80') - Tietz (Michel 80')
Bayer 04: Hradecky – Stanisic, Andrich, Hincapie – Frimpong, Xhaka, Palacios, Grimaldo, Hofmann, Schick, Hlozek (Wirtz 62')
Goal: 0-1 Palacios (90'+4)
Yellow cards: Vargas, Iago, Dorsch - Hofmann
Referee: Sven Jablonski (Bremen)
Attendance: 30,055 at the WWK Arena
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