Preview: Augsburg vs. Bayer Leverkusen - prediction, team news, lineups

Augsburg, meanwhile, are only two points above the Bundesliga's relegation places after also losing last time out.

Match preview

After claiming only their second home win in the Bundesliga this season by beating Borussia Monchengladbach 1-0, Augsburg fell to a 3-1 defeat away to high-flying Freiburg last weekend.

Despite having more shots, corners and possession across the course of the 90 minutes, Freiburg always looked the more threatening team, with Michael Gregoritsch and Lucas Holer scoring either side of Mergim Berisha's penalty to provide the hosts with a 2-1 lead at half-time.

Enrico Maassen's side pushed hard for an equaliser after the break, but Philipp Lienhart's late effort settled any growing nerves within Europa-Park Stadion with only five minutes of normal time remaining.

Avoiding defeat against Leverkusen would ensure that Augsburg remain outside of the bottom three for at least another weekend due to their significantly superior goal difference compared to VfL Bochum (who currently occupy the relegation play-off spot), so Maassen will be hoping for another strong performance on home soil on Friday night.

However, the visitors are unlikely to make life easy for Fuggerstadter, especially having seen their five-match winning streak come to an end after losing 2-0 at home to Borussia Dortmund last weekend.

Victory would have moved Xabi Alonso's side within four points of their opponents after making great strides upwards in the table through their superb winning run, but Karim Adeyemi's 33rd-minute strike gave BVB something to hold onto for the rest of the match.

Leverkusen bossed the game with 21 shots, 57% possession and eight corners at BayArena, but Dortmund had the more clinical edge on the day, while benefitting from a stroke of good fortune when Edmond Tapsoba's own goal helped them to victory as Edin Terzic's side moved 10 points clear of Leverkusen within the Champions League spots.

Despite tasting defeat for the first time in exactly three months, Alonso will be delighted with the progress that his players have made during his tenure so far, having rapidly guided them away from the relegation places since taking over in early October.

While securing a European qualification spot may prove extremely difficult this season, the former Real Madrid midfielder will be keen to defeat Monaco in the last-32 of the Europa League later this month, while continuing to win games with regularity in the Bundesliga and see where they end up come May.

Augsburg Bundesliga form:

L

D

L

L

W

L

Bayer Leverkusen Bundesliga form:

W

W

W

W

W

L

Bayer Leverkusen form (all competitions):

W

W

L

W

W

L

Team News

Augsburg will be without the suspended Ermedin Demirovic, who received his fifth booking of the season against Freiburg last time out. With wingers Ruben Vargas and Andre Hahn still sidelined by ankle and knee injuries respectively, Mads Pedersen could shift further forward, with David Colina starting at left-back.

Irvin Cardona, Reece Oxford, Iago and Tobias Strobl are all expected to remain on the treatment table, meaning Maassen is unlikely to make any other changes to his starting XI.

Leverkusen, meanwhile, will travel without Charles Aranguiz and Andrey Lunev due to calf and back issues respectively, while Callum Hudson-Odoi and Patrik Schick are unlikely to be risked given their recent muscle injuries.

Alonso may be pondering making a change in system after seeing his side look a little too open defensively in moments of transition against Dortmund, with Mitchel Bakker providing an option to start at left wing-back.

Augsburg possible starting lineup:

Gikiewicz; Gumny, Gouweleeuw, Uduokhai, Colina; Maier, Engels, Rexhbecaj, Pedersen; Beljo, Berisha

Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:

Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Palacios, Andrich, Bakker; Diaby, Wirtz, Adli

We say: Augsburg 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen

With both teams losing last weekend, we can envisage a relatively cagey encounter in Bavaria on Friday evening, with both managers preferring to see their sides hold onto possession for long periods.

However, there is little doubt that Leverkusen possess superior individual quality within their ranks, and they should be able to return to winning ways having made great strides under Alonso's management.

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