Advertisement
Full-time
90'

ADDED TIME

We'll have two minutes of added time here in Leverkusen.
89'

SO CLOSE FROM NIEDERLECHNER

A fantastic cross from Max on the left is met by a world-class first touch from Niederlechner in the box to bring the ball out of the sky. He goes for goal straight away but Hradecky makes another solid save at the near post.
84'

JOB DONE FOR KAI

An assist for Diaby's goal has helped cap-off a fantastic first outing for Leverkusen while wearing the captain's armband. With time running out, his job looks to be done with his teammates looking capable of holding onto their lead here.
79'

AUGSBURG COMING BACK HERE

Vargas finds Richter at the near post and his flick towards goal almost finds Niederlechner at the back post. Augsburg are finding space in the Leverkusen defence and could get themselves a goal if they can continue to exploit some tired Bayer legs.
76'

NOT ENOUGH FROM VARGAS

Augsburg have had a few openings here in recent minutes. Vargas steals the ball from Tah in the Leverkusen defence and has Niederlechner in support for a 2-on-2, but goes for goal himself. Hradecky saves but the ball comes back to the away side and eventually sees Richter shoot low at goal on his left from inside the box. Again, Hradecky was equal to it.
72'

FRUSTRATING AFTERNOON

It's been a tiring afternoon for Augsburg, chasing Leverkusen possession and struggling to create chances going forward with the home side's stalwart defence. Only three attempts on goal for them in the entire game.
66'

HAVERTZ SMACKS THE BAR!

Chances galore for Leverkusen with Diaby, Alario and Palacios all having efforts on goal blocked in the space of just a few seconds. The ball eventually goes up in the air and Havertz fires a fantastic volley towards goal on the spin having brought it down, but it cannons back into play off the woodwork.
63'

IT TOOK A WHILE

Amiri has finally bagged his first Bundesliga goal for Leverkusen since joining in the summer from Hoffenheim. It was his 34th shot in the red and black of Bayer.
59'

AMIRI ALL ON HIS OWN!

What a stunning solo goal. The midfielder picks up possession just inside the Augsburg half and races towards goal. He goes through a couple of defenders on his way to the edge of the box before shotting low at goal, and finding the bottom corner. His first Bundesliga goal for Leverkusen and what a way to do it.
59'

Nadiem Amiri

GOAL!

2:0
Nadiem Amiri
57'

ANOTHER OPENING FOR DIABY

The Frenchman is played in on goal on the left side of the Augsburg box but can't beat Koubek at his near post. The flag is raised on the far side, though, to save his blushes slightly.
53'

WEISER SHOULD DO BETTER

Wendell slides Havertz in behind the Augsburg defence towards the byline on the left wing. Somehow the 20-year-old spots the run of Weiser into space just inside the penalty area and finds him with a pin-perfect pass, but Weiser can't keep his side-footed finish on target. He's really mad with himself about that one as it could easily be 2-0...
51'

BACK TO NORMAL

Leverkusen dictating this game once again in the early stages of the second half. Controlling the possession and tempo of it all. The home fans are certainly enjoying it so far despite some bad weather. Rain rain, go away...
46'

BACK UNDERWAY!

No changes at the break for either side as the second half gets back underway.
Kick-off!
Half-time
45'

RICHTER CURLS WIDE

A rare chance for Augsburg in this half as they have the ball around the Leverkusen box. It runs loose to Richter on the edge and he decides to go for goal with his left foot, but sends the ball high and wide.
40'

A ONE-SIDED FIRST HALF SO FAR

The home side have dominated this opening 45 minutes from start to finish. 73 per cent of possession, including four times as many passes completed as their visitors. Shots on goal haven't flowed quite as well, but things are ticking along well. For Augsburg, something has to change.
34'

ALMOST FOR ALARIO

Diaby lofts a cross into the box and Alario tries to reach it at the near post with his head, but he's just a touch late to reaching it. Leverkusen well on top here.
32'

DIABY IN FORM

The French winger has scored three of his four league goals this season in 2020. Only Kevin Volland has scored more (four) than the former PSG speedster.
28'

CLINICAL LEVERKUSEN

The home side ahead with that Diaby goal thanks to Havertz's brilliant assist. It was the first shot the home side have taken today from inside the Augsburg penalty area, having broken through the three-man defence for the first time. 
25'

HAVERTZ CREATES, DIABY FINISHES

A fantastic goal from Leverkusen and it all comes from the magic of Havertz. He picks up possession in the Augsburg and turns to run at goal. He quickly spots Diaby run on the left wing through a couple of Augsburg defenders and slots a perfect through-ball for the Frenchman to reach before clipping the ball over Koubek for the opening goal of the game.
25'

Moussa Diaby

GOAL!

1:0
Moussa Diaby
21'

MAX WITH A STRIKE

What a hit that was from Max. He thunders the free-kick towards goal and it's like a laser from 30 yards out, but it is just off target and goes past the post by no long way at all.
19'

TAPSOBA HANDLES

The Leverkusen defender is caught out by the high pressing of Niederlechner and falls on the ball and holds onto it expecting a foul. In fact, it goes the other way, and the Leverkusen defender is punished accordingly.
18'

NIEDERLECHNER HEADS WIDE

First big chance of the game for the away side as Niederlechner meets Max's corner towards the back post. He glances a header goalwards, but he doesn't get enough on it to send it between the posts.
15'

KHEDIRA BOOKED EARLY

The midfielder goes in late on Palacios and he is shown the first yellow card of the game.
10'

AMIRI HAS A GO

The former Germany U21 international takes a pop-shot at goal from 20 yards out. It's dipping towards goal in an awkward way to the side of Koubek, and he's forced to push it behind for a corner.
9'

LEVERKUSEN COMFORTABLE ON THE BALL

The home side are enjoying the majority of the possession here in the opening minutes. Kai Havertz getting heavily involved with Amiri and Palacios around him in midfield.
2'

THREE AT THE BACK IT IS

As we suspected, Augsburg have reverted to playing with a three-man defence - at least when they have the ball. It looks to be a system which has Max and Framberger drop deeper when the opposition has the ball. Let's see how it works out for Augsburg...
1'

HERE WE GO

The first of our two Bundesliga games today is underway in Leverkusen.
Kick-off!

CARNIVAL ATMOSPHERE IN LEVERKUSEN

The local fans in Leverkusen have been celebrating the Carnival period around Düsseldorf, Cologne, Leverkusen and Mainz to name just a few of the homes of the party time. Plenty of fans in the home crowd are dressed in fancy dress costumes for the day.

HISTORY WITH THE HOME SIDE

Bayer have never lost to Augsburg in the Bundesliga (W11, D6). And with Augsburg currently on a run of three straight away defeats without scoring a goal, they will have to provide something out of the ordinary to change that record today.

BAYER IN FORM

Leverkusen have collected 12 points from their first five league fixtures in 2020. Only Bayern have picked up more (13).

CAPTAIN KAI

Leverkusen attacking midfielder Kai Havertz is captaining his side today, aged just 20. The last time a player captained a Bundesliga side at a younger age than Havertz was in August 2005, when Lukas Podolski led out his Cologne side. He was six months younger at the time than Havertz is now.

LEVERKUSEN STAYING IN THE HUNT?

While the obvious contenders are being spoken about for the title: Bayern, Leipzig, Dortmund, Glabdach... Leverkusen are sticking with the pack this season. A win today will take them level on points with the Foals in fourth place, and just six points off the pace set by Bayern at the top. Possibly more importantly, it would also take Peter Bosz's side seven points ahead of sixth-placed Schalke.

THREE AT THE BACK?

We'll have to wait and see exactly how Augsburg line up today but it could well be with a three-man base in defence. With Jedvaj, Gouweleeuw, Uduokhai, Framberger and Max all starting, the three central defenders could be those first free names mentioned, allowing the full-backs to become wing-backs as part of the midfield. Of course, we'll tell you exactly how they're lining up when the game begins,

ARANGUIZ ILL

The instrumental midfielder is out of action for today due to illness. Exequiel Palacios is in in his place, while another absentee is Kevin Volland. Lucas Alario starts up front in his place and Kai Havertz is today's captain for Leverkusen, with Lars Bender only on the bench.

LEVERKUSEN STARTING XI!

Hradecky - Tah, S. Bender, Tapsoba - Weiser, Amiri, Palacios, Wendell - Havertz (c), Diaby - Alario

LEVERKUSEN SUBS:

Özcan, Dragovic, Paulinho, L. Bender, Bailey, Demirbay, Baumgartlinger, Sinkgraven, Bellarabi

AUGSBURG STARTING XI!

Koubek - Jedvaj, Gouweleeuw, Uduokhai - Framberger, Khedira, Baier (c), Max - Richter, Niederlechner, Jensen

AUGSBURG SUBS:

Luthe, Suchy, Vargas, Sarenren Bazee, Iago, Gruezo, Finnbogason, Hahn, Löwen

Welcome along to the match centre for the game Leverkusen vs. Augsburg from matchday 23 of the 2019/20 Bundesliga season at the BayArena. Check back here for full information on the match.