The Bundesliga is finally back! Three tiresome weeks have finally come to an end and finally it is time to enjoy our weekends again. Whilst Dortmund jetted off and Leipzig jetted off to Spain, Xabi Alonso’s men had a much more low-key Winterpause, staying in Leverkusen and playing a sole friendly match - triumphing 4-1 over Joel Pohjanpalo’s Venezia. Whilst the winter break ordinarily marks the official halfway point of the season, it wasn’t the case this time around with the Werkself playing only 16 of 17 games - an away day in Augsburg remained. Traditionally, you could not find a more one-sided clash in German football - up until last season, Bayer 04 had never tasted defeat against the Fuggerstädter in the league (our only two defeats in 24 Bundesliga games came in the 22/23 season). Form suggested that Leverkusen would walk all over the hosts as they looked to extend the record of the longest unbeaten run to start the season. Augsburg on the other hand could not win in their last three games, though they did beat Hoffenheim 1-0 in a friendly last weekend. Despite collecting just 18 points, Augsburg have been stoic at home, losing just once in the league all season. In the first of the AFCON-affected games, the thinned Leverkusen squad would need to work hard to pass this first test.
The Schwarzroten would not just need to fight to win the football match, but also just to stay warm in the sub-zero temperatures with the mercury reading just -5 before kick-off. The away fans, likely all shivering, may have shuddered again slightly upon seeing the team news. Given the 4-0 win in Bochum was carried out with an entirely non-African starting lineup nerves may have been eased somewhat but the absence of Florian Wirtz was certainly a shock to the system. Robert Andrich, who played masterfully in the friendly last week was in the middle of the back three and Hlozek, scorer of two goals, was rewarded with a place in the starting lineup alongside his national teammate Patrik Schick who of course scored a 16-minute first half hattrick in his first Bundesliga start in over 400 days last time out. Other than Wirtz, notable substitutes included Tah and Tella (not nominated for AFCON). The hosts on the other hand made two changes from their last league match with Brazilian left back Iago overcoming a groin injury just in time to start over Mads Pedersen and Swiss winger Ruben Vargas replacing Arne Engels in left midfield to add a bit of pace and trickery.
The match got underway in the freezing cold, and much like the players themselves, it took a while to heat up. The first ten minutes or so were thoroughly dominated by the guests but despite all the possession, all that could be gained from it was a solitary inconsequential corner from Hofmann which was easily defended (3’). The first big chance of the game actually fell to Augsburg however. In the 13th minute, a fast Augsburg break seemed to be covered by Stanisic, but, in panic, the Croat tries to pass it back to Hradecky from very close range, who himself was rushing out to meet the danger. Luckily for Bayer, the captain was able to react sharply to parry the ball away. It fell to the feet of Vargas, but he was unable to capitalise on the chaos, firing wide. Then it was the turn of the Werkself to generate chances - the first shot on target of the day came from Grimaldo (18th minute) whose low shot towards the bottom right corner is saved by Dahmen. The ball trickles to Frimpong who crosses straight away though Schick’s header was directly at the Augsburg keeper who caught it with ease. Just seconds later, after a quick break, Vargas fell down to the floor in the box after pressure from Stanisic. He went down a bit too easily, in the opinion of referee Sven Jablonski so the yellow card was promptly shown. Suddenly the game came alive. In the 19th minute, Patrik Schick made a great run, through one on one with Finn Dahmen, beat him but a combination of a tight angle and the recovering Uduokhai ensured that the golden chance only resulted in a corner. The 22nd minute saw Emredin Demirovic, a nuisance all game with his trickery, turn Andrich inside out, sidestepping to cut inside but placing his effort from just outside the box narrowly wide. Grimaldo would have another opportunity to test out his shooting boots, taking on a pass from his counterpart Frimpong before shattering the bar with a looping shot from outside the box (27th minute). If the Werkself weren’t bossing the game already, they were now. Great chances fell to Xhaka (32’), Schick with a header not too dissimilar to his earlier one (34’) but most significantly Andrich (37’) who had a gilt-edged header blocked by the thigh of Dahmen from very close range following an inswinging Grimaldo corner. A goal would have made up for the somewhat disappointing performance of the German international up to that point, but the manner in which goals kept being denied was perhaps an insight of what was to come. The 43rd minute saw Palacios’ hard work rewarded as he managed to tackle Uduokhai high up the pitch. Winning the ball, he fizzed the ball to Hofmann in the box who could only miskick, spurning an otherwise certain goal. The first half ended in a rather feisty manner with yellow cards for Dorsch (44’) for stepping on Palacios’ foot and Hofmann (45+1’) for a hard and late challenge on Demirovic. The half time statistics told the story - 73% possession for Bayer 04, a lot even when considering Augsburg have the second lowest amount of possession on average in the league, 8 shots (4 on target) compared to Augsburg 3 (0 on target) and an xG of just 0.13 for the hosts, compared to Leverkusen’s 0.87.
The second half started like it finished, high tempo and very open. Augsburg throughout the first half did not rely at all on build-up play, rather long balls in behind which they did once again to great effect. A long ball forward gets knocked down inside the Leverkusen penalty area and falls to Demirovic who neatly spins before smashing a shot against the side netting near the six-yard box. Palacios then hits it over from range at the other end soon after (48’). In the 50th minute, Leverkusen got a corner - Hofmann tried something clever by passing to Xhaka just outside the box. He then shifts the ball to Palacios who isn’t able to curl the ball quite enough to trouble the Augsburg goal. Xhaka would then get a couple of decent cracks of his own, first a deflected shot (53’), then a header from relatively long range following Hofmann’s second attempt at crossing the ball from the resulting corner (54’). Again luck was not on the Swiss captain’s side as the wide header meant he was still searching for his first goal wearing the cross. The game continued to flow Leverkusen’s way but the cutting edge was missing - Wirtz. The wunderkind came on in the 61st minute and did not take long to make his presence known. Two minutes later, Wirtz beats his man, passes to Grimaldo inside the box who then puts in a delicious ball across the six yard box… for nobody to tap home. The chances continued to pile up. The most shots taken by Leverkusen in a match so far this season was 24 and that record looked destined to be broken. After a lovely one-touch sequence, the ball bounces out to Frimpong who fires just wide (65’). A couple of minutes later, Wirtz takes a corner quickly, finding Grimaldo on the edge of the box. Rather than shooting, he lifts the ball towards Hincapie but the Ecuadorian glances his effort wide of the right post (67’). Augsburg then had their best spell of the game and on another day, could have pulled clear. Long balls and passes in behind were a problem all game, especially in the absence of Tah. In the 68th minute, Demirovic runs through one on one with Hradecky, takes the ball past him before firing over - despite having an open goal at his mercy. His blushes were spared with the offside flag and Leverkusen fans everywhere breathed a sigh of relief. The replays of that miss had only just finished when Wirtz found himself in the six-yard box but could not find the gap between Dahmen, the post and the goal, firing wide. Whilst Demirovic’s technique stole the show, it was his strike partner, Tietz, who would find the net first. Once again it was a through ball, exploiting the lack of pace and high line of Leverkusen’s defence and Tietz burst onto the pass before clinically slotting past Hradecky. Fortunately the offside flag was quick to be raised but that did not stop a lengthy VAR check nonetheless - it eventually confirmed what everyone at home knew already; no goal. Leverkusen had dodged a bullet twice - there was something in the air. Bayer 04 kept pushing right to the end. Hofmann received a layoff from Wirtz and then unleashed a piledriver which required a top save to deny it (88’). Then, in what was the last action of the game, Hincapie gives it to Grimaldo who then crosses first time to Palacios at an uncomfortable height. The Argentine controls it well before volleying the bouncing ball home sending the 2300 away fans in attendance into utter delirium! The players too were all clearly overcome with joy that was so heartwarming to witness. That goal did not just win the game, it won the Hinrunde and sent a message. Leverkusen will never give up and will always find a way. These are games that define champions and Leverkusen passed the test. With an xG of 2.21 against 0.13 for the Fuggerstädter, not conceding a single shot on target the entire match or a shot of any kind in the second half (albeit there were ones that were offside), the result was anything but undeserved.
The 1-0 away win takes Bayer 04 up to 45 points - the third best points tally in Bundesliga history for a Hinrunde - and extended the unbeaten streak to 26 matches. Next up for the Werkself is a tough trip to RB Leipzig in Saturday's evening game.The Saxons lost this weekend against Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 but still recorded an astounding 31 shots. Whilst Tah will likely come back in place of Andrich (given he was saved from a possible yellow card ban), there has to be more work done on better dealing with long balls in behind as with the pace of Openda and Sesko, they could have a field day. That is next week's problem though - now just relax and rest your heart - you need it!
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