Schick rescues Leverkusen as Augsburg surrender perfect start

Bayer Leverkusen took a deserved lead into the latter stages of the first half against Bundesliga leaders Augsburg, with Christian Kofane rewarding an increasingly threatening display from the visitors.

Augsburg actually created the first opening inside the opening minute, as Robin Fellhauer’s low delivery found Hennes Behrens at the far post, only for Facundo Medina to make an important block.

Leverkusen quickly began to grow into the contest, however, with Moussa Diaby causing problems down the right and Kofane heading an Aleix Garcia corner narrowly wide.

Ibrahim Maza was next to threaten, driving into the penalty area before seeing a left-footed effort blocked, while Finn Dahmen was called upon to deny a further Leverkusen opening after Medina picked out a run in behind.

The visitors eventually made their pressure count in the 18th minute, when Kofane converted following an assist from Edmond Tapsoba to put Carles Martinez’s side in front.

Seconds into the second half, Augsburg would begin to threaten again, with Bayern Munich loanee Arjon Ibrahimovic sending a powerful effort past the post, coming close to stunning the visitors. 

This would not be a flash in the pan either, with Die Fuggerstädter holding on to the momentum. 

Just a matter of minutes later, Hennes Behrens slipped in Michael Gregoritsch, before the experienced forward poked the ball under the onrushing Mark Flekken to level the score at the WWK Arena.

And within five minutes, the hosts had put themselves ahead. 

After rounding off the win against Frankfurt, Fabian Rieder was at the centre of things again, with Gregoritsch meeting his ball into the box to find the back of the net his second in no time at all, leaving Manuel Baum's side top of the league for the time being. 

Leverkusen thought they had produced an immediate response less than four minutes later, when Maza’s effort from the edge of the box took a deflection off Rieder and found the back of the net. However, Augsburg were given a reprieve after a VAR review.

Leverkusen continued to push for an equaliser, and their pressure finally paid off as Patrik Schick rescued a point for the visitors.

Malik Tillman fired the ball back into the penalty area, where Schick produced an excellent backheel finish to guide it beyond Dahmen and level the contest at 2-2.

It denied Augsburg a third successive victory, but Baum’s side remain unbeaten after an impressive start to the campaign and sit third in the Bundesliga after taking seven points from their opening three matches.

For Leverkusen, meanwhile, the late equaliser ensured they avoided a second defeat of the season, although their own mixed start continues.

Carles Martinez’s side sit sixth after recording a win, a draw and a defeat from their opening three Bundesliga fixtures.