Prediction: Augsburg vs Bayer Leverkusen

Verdict: Bayer Leverkusen win

Best Odds: 4/5

Bookmaker: Unibet

Hoping to make an immediate return to winning ways when they travel to the WWK Arena on Friday night, Bayer Leverkusen will meet Augsburg.

Augsburg

Starting with the hosts, while Augsburg might have managed to claim a 1-0 victory against Borussia Monchengladbach on January 25th, it appears that might have just been a minor boost for the German strugglers. Last seen putting in a downbeat display on the road as they slumped to a deserved 3-1 loss away at Freiburg, Enrico Maaßen’s men find themselves at the heart of a relegation scrap. Holding just a two-point buffer from slipping into the drop zone, Friday’s hosts have recorded just a single win from their last 10 straight Bundesliga battles. With that nightmare run of form stemming all the way back to October 2nd, Augsburg have also gained a reputation for their rather glaring issues at the back. Slumping to a remarkable 4-3 loss at the hands of Borussia Dortmund last month, the Reds have landed just a sole top-flight clean sheet since the middle of September.

Team News

Picking up a costly booking against Frieburg last week, Augsburg will be without Ermedin Demirovic on Friday night as the 24-year-old serves a one-match suspension.

Maaßen has also confirmed that he will once again be without the injured duo of Ruben Vargas and Andre Hahn here. Likewise, former West Ham starlet Reece Oxford is also someway of making his first-team return.

Bayer Leverkusen

As for the visitors, watching their eye-catching return from the World Cup break come to an abrupt end last weekend, Bayer Leverkusen will be seeking an immediate response here. Eventually getting hit with a 2-0 defeat at home against Borussia Dortmund, Xabi Alonso’s men should be smelling a real chance on Friday night. Finding a route into the top-half of the Bundesliga table and now looking to pinch a shock European spot, Die Werkself have still taken 15 points from their last six top-flight showdowns. Gaining plenty of plaudits under the one-time Real Madrid midfielder, Leverkusen should also be excited by their recent success on the road. Including an action-packed 3-2 victory against Borussia Monchengladbach on January 22nd, Alonso’s side have secured back-to-back Bundesliga wins away from the BayArena. Likewise, picking up a 4-1 victory when they last made the trip to the WWK Arena back in August 2021, Friday’s guests will be desperate for a repeat display.

Team News

Still dealing with respecitve injury issues, both Charles Aranguiz and Andrey Lunev will once again miss out for Bayer Leverkusen on Friday night.

Likewise, Alonso is still sweating over the fitness of Patrik Schick and Chelsea loanee Callum Hudson-Odoi. Despite drawing back-to-back blanks, 22-year-old Amine Adil should once again spearhead Leverkusen’s attack this weekend.

Key Factors to Consider

• When Bayer Leverkusen last made the trip to the WWK Arena back in August 2021, Die Werkself claimed a 4-1 victory.
• Likewise, Friday’s guests have suffered just a single defeat in any of their last 21 straight meetings against Augsburg.
• Bayer Leverkusen have collected 15 points from their previous six Bundesliga appearances.
• Augsburg have won just one of their last 10 straight Bundesliga matchups.
• The Bundesliga relegation scrappers have won recorded just a single top-flight clean sheet since the middle of September.

Conclusion

Although Bayer Leverkusen might have seen their five-match Bundesliga winning run come to an abrupt end last weekend, Friday’s guests should be smelling a real chance here. Skyrocketing their way up the Bundesliga table and now dreaming of snatching a European spot, Alonso’s men will be looking to cash in on an Augsburg side who find themselves at the heart of an extended struggle. Holding just a two-point buffer from slipping into the drop zone, the Reds have claimed just a single top-flight victory from their previous 10 attempts. Watching Leverkusen storm their way to a 4-1 romp when they last made the trip to the WWK Arena back in August 2021, we’re expecting a similar away win here.

Verdict: Bayer Leverkusen win

Best Odds: 4/5

Bookmaker: Unibet