Bayer Leverkusen vs. FC Augsburg preview: Will Die Werkself continue Champions League surge?

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