Highlights

Matchday 17

FINAL

WWK ARENA

Bayer 04 Leverkusen

90' + 4'

PalaciosExequiel Palacios

S. Jablonski

WWK ARENA

90'

+ 7

Leverkusen pull away

They say the best things come to those who wait, and Leverkusen were made to wait for all three points in Augsburg! Almost with the last kick of the game, and with their 25th shot of the game, Palacios snatches all three points for Xabi Alonso's men, taking them back four points clear at the top of the Bundesliga and making them the unofficial autumn champions - leading the way at the halfway stage of the season.

Full-time

90'

+ 4

There it is!

In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Palacios has finally found a way through! Their 25th shot of the game hits the jackpot for Leverkusen, with a great touch to take the sting out of Grimaldo's cross and then another touch to volley it past Dahmen!

90'

+ 4

Exequiel Palacios

GOAL!

0:1

Goal probability

Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.

24 %

Shot speed

Shot speed describes the maximum speed in km/h that a ball reaches in a shot on goal. The distance is measured from the location of the shot to the centre of the goal.

80.34 km/h

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

9.35 m

90'

+ 1

Five more minutes

Will that be enough time for a winner at either end?

90'

One more for the record

Leverkusen have had 24 shots in this game - their joint most in a single Bundesliga game this season.

90'

Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes

Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.

Jeremie Agyekum Frimpong33.60km/h

Ruben Vargas32.81km/h

Iago32.62km/h

88'

Substitution

Robert Gumny

Elvis Rexhbecaj

87'

Late goal possible

Leverkusen scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time to snatch a 2-2 draw against Bayern, so there is a precedent for some late drama.

82'

Frimpong flashes another one

Yet another effort off target, and it's Frimpong once again who flashes it across the face of goal but wide of the far post.

80'

Substitution

Sven Michel

Phillip Tietz

80'

Substitution

Dion Beljo

Ermedin Demirović

80'

Substitution

Arne Engels

Fredrik Jensen

79'

Chances are piling up

Leverkusen will be wondering why they are not in front, though most of their 21 attempts have been off target.

Goal attempts

2off target

0on target

17off target

4on target

75'

Game opening up

Those two big chances for Augsburg confirm that, with Leverkusen desperate to find a winner, they are leaving more gaps for the hosts to exploit. A grandstand finish is in store.

72'

SituationNo goal

ReviewOffside?

DecisionNo goal

72'

Tietz... offside!

Augsburg have the ball in the back of the net, but it is ruled out for offside! Tietz bursts through and slots the ball in, but the flag goes up and it is the right decision.

68'

Almost 1-0.... but offside

Demirović races clear and takes the ball round Hrádecký, but he sends his effort wide with the goal at his mercy! The flag does go up, but that was close for Augsburg.

65'

Ping-pong to Frimpong

A neat exchange of passes has the ball ping-ponging around the area and it finally reaches Frimpong, who sort of snatches at his shot and the ball flashes across the face of goal.

62'

Wirtz wizardry required

xGoals

The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).

Can Wirtz turn this xG into G?

xGoals

0.13

1.61

Goals

62'

Substitution

Arne Maier

Rubén Vargas

62'

Substitution

Florian Wirtz

Adam Hložek

60'

Wirtz warming up

It looks like Florian Wirtz, who is carrying a bit of a knock, is going to be sent on by Alonso to try to add the spark his team are lacking.

60'

Close for Schick!

Schick rose to meet a cross from the right and flicks it with his head just before Dahmen can reach it, but the ball flashes wide of the far post.

54'

Time to convert

Eight corners, but nothing has yet come from them for Leverkusen. Xhaka heads wide from this one - that's one of the closest they have come from a set piece.

Corners

50'

Statistically unlikely 0-0

Leverkusen have scored at least once in each game this season, while Augsburg have always conceded at least one in 19 straight Bundesliga games. They have not been involved in a goalless draw in their past 67 Bundesliga games either. So where is that goal going to come from?

48'

First chance: Augsburg

Demirović had Augsburg's best chance of the first half, and he has had their first of the second half. He turns his man and sends his effort wide of goal.

Kick-off!

45'

+ 2

All square at the break

Dahmen is doing his best to keep his first ever Bundesliga clean sheet, with Leverkusen asking the most questions, although no particularly cutting ones to unsettle the hosts too much.

Half-time

45'

+ 1

One more minute

Just one minute of added time, which the players will probably not complain about - it's -3 degrees in Augsburg and a hot drink in a heated dressing room is what they will all want.

45'

+ 1

Yellow card

Jonas Hofmann

44'

Yellow card

Niklas Dorsch

41'

Diligent Dahmen

Augsburg's goalkeeper has made four saves already, and had 20 touches of the ball - more than any other Augsburg player in this first half.

37'

Andrich close, as Dahmen hits the post

The hollow sound of the frame of the Augsburg goal rattling once again, though it is not Andrich's header which hits the post but Dahmen, who clatters into it after dealing with the Leverkusen defender's header.

33'

Xhaka wide

Xhaka sends Leverkusen's next effort of the game off target. He's still waiting for his first goal in a Leverkusen shirt.

30'

Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes

Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.

Jeremie Agyekum Frimpong33.60km/h

Iago32.62km/h

Fredrik Jensen32.21km/h

28'

Crossbar!

Frimpong pings the ball across for Grimaldo who takes aim from a similar position to his first shot, and this time he rattles the crossbar. Dahmen was beaten with that effort.

27'

More purpose needed

Leverkusen have been passing the ball around a lot, and well, but with an xG of 0.13 and only two attempts - both off target - they need to find more purpose for their passes.

Passes

210

23'

Inches away!

Demirović turns on the edge of the area and whips in a low, bending effort which just misses the post. Augsburg are giving as good as they get here.

20'

Schick close!

Best chance of the game so far with Schick skipping past Dahmen, but Uduokhai covers to clear the ball behind for a corner before the Czech forward can tuck the ball into an open goal.

19'

Simulation

The first booking of the game is for Vargas, who went down in the penalty area. According to the referee, he was looking for a penalty unfairly.

19'

Yellow card

Iago

18'

Double chance

Grimaldo takes aim from distance and his daisy-cutter is parried by Dahmen, with Hofmann missing the rebound.

18'

Yellow card

Rubén Vargas

13'

Scare for Leverkusen

A bit of a misunderstanding in the Leverkusen defence with Stanišić's risky ball back cleared by Hrádecký, and Vargas shoots from long range, albeit wide of the right-hand upright.

In one half

Leverkusen have pitched their tent in the Augsburg half, playing the ball from side to side in search of a way through.

Possession (%)

2179

First corner for the guests

Leverkusen get their first corner of the game, with Hofmann's delivery blocked at the near post. The guests with most of the ball so far.

Kick-off!

Out come the teams!

Leverkusen are on a 25-game unbeaten run this season, in all competitions. Will they extend it to 26, or can Augsburg become the first team to beat Xabi Alonso's men this term? stick with us to find out!

0:17

Augsburg arrive

New back three

Alonso has to pick a completely new-look defensive trio, centred around Andrich (pictured), with Stanišić and Hincapié to either side. With Tah on the bench and Kossounou and Tapsoba at the Africa Cup of Nations, Leverkusen's 'usual' back three is disbanded.

Just two changes for Thorup

The Augsburg coach makes two changes compared to his last team selection before Christmas, with Iago in for the suspended Pedersen and Vargas replacing Engels.

Schick ton up

Schick starts his 100th competitive game for Leverkusen today, with an excellent 47 goals in his 99 games so far. That includes a hat-trick before the winter break. Can he net another and move onto half a century of goals for Die Werkself today?

Augsburg starting XI

Dahmen - Mbabu, Gouweleeuw, Uduokhai, Iago - Rexhbeçaj, Dorsch - Jensen, Demirović (c), Vargas - Tietz

Augsburg subs:

Koubek, Gumny, Pfeiffer, Beljo, Maier, Breithaupt, Michel, Winther, Engels

Leverkusen starting XI

Hrádecký (c) - Stanišić, Andrich, Hincapié - Frimpong, Palacios, Xhaka, Grimaldo – Hofmann – Schick, Hložek

Leverkusen subs:

Kovář, Tah, Wirtz, Amiri, Mbamba-Muanda, Tella, Fosu-Mensah, Puerto, Onyeka

Alonso's view on Augsburg

"The players have come back with very good energy and in a good condition. We had a high tempo in training from the start. I also liked the friendly match [against Venezia]. We’re absolutely ready, although it’s always tough in Augsburg. They’ve very much improved since Jess Thorup took over, also playing well in their friendly against Hoffenheim [1-0 win]."

3:16

Watch: Bayer Leverkusen - From Hunters to Hunted

Thorup's view on Leverkusen

"We've got a tough start to the year, but we like challenges. We want to be the first team to beat Leverkusen, even though they have a lot of quality. It'll be important for us to not just defend but also create our own moments in possession."

5:37

Watch: Bayern chasing Leverkusen in gripping title race

Minute's silence

In honour of Franz Beckenbauer, there will be a minute’s silence held before all Bundesliga Matchday 17 matches, while players will also wear a black armband as a mark of respect for the passing of one of the all-time greats of German and world football.

Probable line-ups

Who’s set to play this weekend? Who’s going to miss out? Keep up to date with all the latest team news right here!

0:30

Watch: Get ready for the Bundesliga's return!

Augsburg - the season so far

Eliminated in the DFB Cup first round by lower-league opposition and with one win to show for their first seven league games, Augsburg replaced Enrico Maaßen with Jess Throup. The uptick was immediate as the Bavarians kicked off the Dane's tenure with two wins the foundation for a six-match unbeaten streak. Even though they took just one point from their next three, Die Fuggerstädter currently sit in the relative comforts of 11th place with an eight-point cushion on the relegation zone. Ermedin Demirović continues to set a captain's example in his club's pursuit of a 14th straight season of Bundesliga football, with a team-leading eight goals and five assists.

Leverkusen - the season so far

Dropping points just three times across 16 matches, Leverkusen are the only unbeaten team left in this season's Bundesliga. Xabi Alonso's team are averaging a Europe-leading 2.625 points per game, and are enjoying the longest run of competitive matches without defeat to start a season in German history (25 in all competitions). Four points clear of defending champions Bayern Munich, who have a game in hand, and going just as strong in the DFB Cup and UEFA Europa League, could they be about to end the 'Neverkusen' curse once and for all?

2:03

Watch: Augsburg 1-0 Leverkusen - previous meeting

Augsburg did the double over Leverkusen last season, having failed to win any of their previous 22 meetings (D7, L15).

2:03

Watch: Stuttgart 3-0 Augsburg - highlights

Augsburg finished the year on a three-match losing run after being comfortably beaten away to third-placed Stuttgart.

2:03

Watch: Leverkusen 4-0 Bochum - highlights

Patrik Schick scored a hat-trick as Bundesliga leaders Leverkusen extended their unbeaten start to the season to 16 matches prior to the winter break.

Hello and welcome!

Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of this Matchday 17 fixture between Augsburg and Leverkusen.