Wasteful Bayer Leverkusen stunned by clinical Augsburg
Augsburg secured a surprise 2-0 victory against Bayer Leverkusen, with goals from Dimitrios Giannoulis and Anton Kade giving interim coach Manuel Baum the perfect start. The visitors hit the woodwork multiple times but couldn't find a way past a resolute home defence.
Augsburg 2-0 LeverkusenGoals: 1-0 Giannoulis 6’ (assist: Schlotterbeck), 2-0 Kade 28’ (assist: Giannoulis)
Augsburg came into the match in poor form, having lost four of their last five Bundesliga games, which led to the departure of head coach Sandro Wagner during the week.
Leverkusen, meanwhile, were looking to bounce back after last weekend's league defeat to Borussia Dortmund, whom they managed to beat in the DFB Cup in midweek. The visitors were without key player Alejandro Grimaldo - a significant absence, given that they had failed to win a league match without the 30-year-old in the starting line-up this season.
Clinical Augsburg take control
Augsburg took a surprise lead in the sixth minute when Keven Schlotterbeck, captaining the side for the first time in a Bundesliga match, played a superb pass behind the Leverkusen defence. Giannoulis latched onto it and fired past Mark Flekken, with Ernest Poku unable to make a last-ditch block.
The hosts continued to threaten and nearly doubled their lead in the 26th minute when Alexis Claude-Maurice looped an effort over Flekken, only to see it strike the crossbar.
Augsburg didn't have to wait long for their second goal, however, as Kade headed home from Giannoulis's pin-point cross in the 28th minute.
Leverkusen struggled to respond despite dominating possession, with Patrik Schick heading against the post from an Aleix García corner just before half-time.
Leverkusen hit woodwork but can't break through
The visitors continued to create chances after the break, with Schick missing a good opportunity in the 52nd minute after being set up by Malik Tillman.
Eliesse Ben Seghir, introduced on the hour mark, struck the crossbar with a powerful effort from the edge of the box in the 65th minute.
Augsburg remained dangerous on the counter-attack, though, with Kade forcing a good save from Flekken in the 69th minute.
Leverkusen's bad luck continued when Nathan Tella saw his close-range effort hit the post after Finn Dahmen had parried a shot from Schick in the 75th minute.
Despite posting an xG of 2.07 compared to Augsburg's 1.4, Leverkusen couldn't find the net and slumped to their second consecutive league defeat.
Man of the Match: Anton Kade
Kade delivered an outstanding performance to help Augsburg secure all three points. The midfielder not only scored the crucial second goal with a well-placed header but was also instrumental in both attack and defence throughout the match.
He won 12 challenges - more than any Augsburg player - and also had four shots during the match, forcing a good save from Flekken in the second half. When he was taken off by Baum in the 89th minute, he left the pitch to a deserved standing ovation.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Augsburg 1.4 - Leverkusen 2.07
Fastest player: Ernest Poku (Leverkusen), 34.45 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 1-0 by Dimitrios Giannoulis (Augsburg), 33.54 per cent
Most pressed player: Anton Kade (Augsburg), 19 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Robert Andrich (Leverkusen), +3.84
Fantasy Heroes: Dimitrios Giannoulis (Augsburg, 327 Points), Anton Kade (Augsburg, 292 Points), Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen, 227 Points)
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