Head coach Xabi Alonso opted to play a 3-4-2-1 formation in the match at FC Augsburg. The Spanish coach made three changes to his starting line-up compared with the 2-0 home defeat against Borussia Dortmund: Jonathan Tah made way for Odilon Kossounou in defence, Mitchel Bakker started on the left wing in place of Nadiem Amiri, who did not travel to Augsburg due to a muscular problem. Adam Hlozek began up front with Florian Wirtz on the bench at the start.
The match started with high intensity with both sides quick to press. The visitors from Leverkusen again showed high tempo in attack from the start and again and again looked to attack the goal of FCA keeper Rafal Gikiewicz – as with a counter-attack from Moussa Diaby but his cross failed to find a teammate (8’). Shortly after that, Piero Hincapie just missed the target from a corner taken by Amine Adli (9').
Then the once again impressive Diaby had two good chances to open the scoring: First, the Frenchman tried a long-range effort (28’) and a minute later the Werkself number 19 was put through in the box on the right after a solo run by Jeremie Frimpong but Diaby hit his shot just wide of the post. The two teams went into half-time with the scoreline at 0-0.
The Alonso team appeared to want to take control of the game at the start of the second half. The first move again involved Diaby who once more tried to shoot at the Augsburg goal. But Gikiewicz was in the right spot (48'). At the other end, Lukas Hradecky saved a long-range effort from winter signing Dion Beljo with the Finn turning the ball round the post for a corner. Arne Engels took the set-piece and he found the unmarked Mergim Berisha in the six-yard box and he was able to nod the ball home to make it 1-0 on 55 minutes.
Xabi Alonso reacted with a double substitution and a change of system: Kerem Demirbay came on for Kossounou and Hlozek made way for Wirtz (62'). That meant the Black and Reds changed from a back four to a back three. There were two other substitutions on 76 minutes: Jonathan Tah replaced Mitchel Bakker, Robert Andrich came off for Callum Hudson-Odoi. The latter tried to find teammate Frimpong in the middle with a pinpoint pass but he failed to connect (78').
The Black and Reds found it difficult after conceding the goal and rarely posed a threat after that. The Werkself lacked ideas in the second half and the hosts were able to manage the game to secure a 1-0 win. This is the first time Leverkusen have left Augsburg without picking up a point.
After a busy start to 2023 with a midweek fixture, the Werkself now have a week of training. Bundesliga matchday 20 sees Bayer 04 travel to TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday 11 February. The kick off at the PreZero Arena in Sinsheim is at 15.30 CET. There will not be much time to rest after that: Five days later, on Thursday 16 February (kick-off: 21.00 CET) Lukas Hradecky and Co. entertain AS Monaco at the BayArena in the Europa League.
Match stats:
FC Augsburg: Gikiewicz – Gumny, Gouweleeuw, Uduokhai, Pedersen (Zehnter 90’) – Engels, Rexhbecaj (Dorsch 72’) – Maier (Caliguiri 90’), Jensen (Yeboah 72’) – Beljo (Sarenren Bazee 82’), Berisha
Bayer 04: Hradecky - Kossounou (Demirbay 62’), Tapsoba, Hincapie (Bellarabi 89’)- Frimpong, Palacios, Andrich (Hudson-Odoi 76’), Bakker (Tah 76’) - Diaby, Adli - Hlozek (Wirtz 62’)
Goals: 1-0 Berisha (55’)
Booked: Beljo, Maier, Gumny - Hincapie, Adli, Rolfes (Sporting managing director)
Referee: Marco Fritz (Korb)
Attendance: 27,318 at the WWK Arena
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