Bayer Leverkusen vs. FC Augsburg preview: Will Die Werkself continue Champions League surge?
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Bayer Leverkusen host Augsburg on matchday 30 as they hope to continue their push for a Champions League berth. The visitors are winless in their last five Bundesliga games.
Bayer Leverkusen
Kasper Hjulmand’s side could benefit from the positive results of Bayern Munich and SC Freiburg in Europe this week. If Germany finish ahead of Spain in the UEFA coefficient ranking, the fifth-placed Bundesliga side would secure a place in next season’s Champions League.
After a poor form in March, Leverkusen recovered with a comeback victory over Wolfsburg followed by three points from a trip to second-placed Borussia Dortmund. Die Werkself are currently four points behind both RB Leipzig and VfB Stuttgart.
Team News
Apart from Arthur and Martin Terrier, there are no new injuries in Leverkusen’s camp. However, with a midweek cup game against FC Bayern on the horizon, Hjulmand could opt for a few changes in the lineup.
FC Augsburg
Alexis Claude-Maurice was named “Man of the Match” when Augsburg held at home by TSG Hoffenheim last Friday, but the attacking midfielder missed a late penalty-kick that could’ve won the hosts the game.
That result extended Augsburg’s winless run to five games, but Manuel Baum’s side are eight points ahead of the relegation playoff spot. Winning all three games in February pretty much confirmed safety for the club with modest ambitions.
Team News
Kevin Schlotterbeck will return after missing last week’s game for accumulated yellow cards. Similarly, Han-Noah Massengo is back in the squad following his absence due to illness.
Head-to-Head
Goals from Dimitrios Giannoulis and Anton Kade inside the first half-hour stunned Leverkusen in the reverse fixture. It was Baum’s second debut for Augsburg after the premature end of Sandro Wagner’s unsuccessful spell.
Predicted Lineups
Leverkusen: Flekken; Quansah, Andrich ©, Tapsoba; Culbreath, Aleix Garcia, Palacios, Grimaldo; Maza, Tella; Schick
Augsburg: Dahmen; Banks, Gouweleeuw ©, Schlotterbeck; Fellhauer, Massengo, Rieder, Giannoulis; Kade, Claude-Maurice; Gregoritsch
