The Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung verdict is: "The Werkself are the only club FCA have failed to beat in their seven years in the Bundesliga. With the same number of points to date this season, it was a fair assumption the two teams would compete on level terms. However, Augsburg dominated proceedings as Leverkusen, in contrast to the last two games against FC Köln and Borussia Mönchengladbach, failed to produce their full attacking potential even in the second half."
The Cologne newspaper Express writes: "Bayer Leverkusen remain unbeaten for the seventh competitive match in succession. However, the team under coach Heiko Herrlich (45) were unable to achieve more than a 1-1 draw against favourite opponents Augsburg – the Werkself have yet to lose to the Swabians in the Bundesliga. With Kevin Volland's goal, Leverkusen have scored in 16 successive league matches – that's not just the best return in the league but also a club record!" The journal named Jonathan Tah as the best Werkself player: with second-best marks and the reasoning: "Was tested as the key man in defence and did a great job."
The online edition of the Kölner Stadt Anzeiger highlights: "Kevin Volland's goal was worked really well. It was the best move of the game in what was a physical encounter. Volland open the scoring for the Werkself after the restart. A mistake by Kevin Danso allowed the Bayer striker to break through, beat the two central defenders, move the ball to his right foot and fire a shot under the bar from 12 yards out (47')."
The Rheinische Post assessment reads: "The Werkself remain unbeaten for the seventh match in succession. In a physical encounter at FC Augsburg on Saturday afternoon, Bayer 04 battled to secure a 1-1 draw. Coach Heiko Herrlich made one change to the side that won the derby against FC Köln: Panagiotis Retsos was replaced by the captain Lars Bender who returned to the first team after recovering from a muscle problem. Benjamin Henrichs did not travel to Augsburg. The three-time Germany international missed the away game as did sporting director Rudi Völler due to a bout of flu. Ahead of the final pre-match training session Herrlich criticise his players motivation and training. The 45-year-old warned about taking FCA for granted. His words appeared to have been absorbed by his team: the visitors were focused from the start without taking any risks."
The assessment in the Kicker reads: FC Augsburg have never won a game in their twelve Bundesliga fixtures against Bayer Leverkusen (four drawers, a defeats), and the Bavarian Swabians failed to break that spell at the thirteenth attempt: The meeting of two teams in mid-table ended all square at 1-1, and the Werkself remain unbeaten in seven competitive matches on the bounce… Augsburg kept the pressure up to the end as they battled to secure a first win against Leverkusen. However, FCA failed to find a way of breaching the stout defence of Herrlich's team. So Augsburg once again failed to secure victory against the Werkself."
Bosnia U19 international Kerim Alajbegovic is moving from Bayer 04 Leverkusen's youth set-up to Red Bull Salzburg. The talented attacking midfielder has signed a long-term contract with the Austrian club. At the same time, the works club secured a buy-back option for the 17-year-old, who was one of the mainstays of the Leverkusen U19s.
Show moreThe Werkself are away to Premier League club Chelsea in the final pre-season friendly. The game against the current holders of the UEFA Conference League is on Friday, 8 August at Stamford Bridge with the kick-off at 20:00 CEST. Read on for information on ticket sales.
Show moreThe Werkself are away to Dutch top-flight club Fortuna Sittard in the third pre-season friendly. The match is on Friday, 1 August at the Fortuna Sittard stadium with the kick-off at 19:00 CEST. Read on for information on ticket sales.
Show moreThe Werkself are away to VfL Bochum in the second pre-season friendly. The match is on Sunday, 27 July at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion with the kick-off at 18:00 CEST. Read on for the latest information on ticket sales.
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