After getting off to a flying start, Bayer Leverkusen has gone from the upper reaches of the Bundesliga to a crash landing back to the middle of the table.
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Augsburg: Time, TV schedule and game preview
If Leverkusen cannot stop Augsburg from snatching points then their campaign looks hallow after a charismatic start.
Stuart Franklin
They surrendered a lead to Werder Bremen before a disappointing performance in Monaco, where they could not hit the broad side of a barn with their scoring chances. Then came a 1-4 dismantling from VfL Wolfsburg, a team that Everton undressed in the Europa League.
They have made tremendous strides competing for a top spot in the Bundesliga, but cannot seem to shift into an extra gear. Now Augsburg comes to town, trying to prove that last year's mid-table rise was not a fluke. Leverkusen faces a near must-win situation, and more dropped points supports the narrative that they are still not ready to take the next step in both Germany and internationally.
Key Player: Raul Bobadilla (Augsburg)
André Hahn left a hole on the left flank when he bolted Bavaria to move to Borussia Monchengladbach, but Bobadilla has filled the void so far. He and Tobias Werner have become one of the best sets of wingers in the Bundesliga. He now goes up against a team that has allowed the likes of Aaron Hunt and Fin Bartels to score. He has a great opportunity to get his third goal of the season, making him one of the top scorers in the Bundesliga.
Key Matchup: Daniel Baier vs. Lars Bender
They may not be part of the Germany national team picture, but both Baier and Bender direct their teams in very crucial ways. The two are critical vertebrae in the spine of their team, but their contributions are very different. Baier is responsible for orchestrating the attack, while Bender is the box-to-box support for both attacking and defensive lines. The battle will ultimately come down to the midfield, and whoever shows up in more of an impactful way will lead their team to victory.
Leverkusen Injuries and Suspensions:
Out: Julian Brandt (ankle), Kyriakos Papadopoulos (shoulder), Simon Rolfes (ankle), Ömer Toprak (calf problems) Suspensions: Guido Donati, Ömer Toprak
Augsburg Injuries and Suspensions:
Out: Jan Morávek (knee), Dominik Reinhardt (achilles)
Much like many top teams in the Bundesliga, Leverkusen's defense is thin due to the unavailability of key center back options. Even if Ömer Toprak was healthy his suspension would leave him out of the side. Stefan Reinartz is expected to shift back from midfield, and he will have to lean on Emir Spahić. Guido Donati's suspension might cause him to lose his job to Tin Jedvaj.
Jan Morávek and Dominik Reinhardt have been out for a long time, so Markus Weinzierl will not have to take injury considerations into account when he builds his team sheet.
Match Date/Time: Wednesday, 8 p.m. local, 2 p.m. ET
Venue: BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany
TV: GolTV (USA & Canada), MyGermanTV + (USA), Sky Bundesliga 6 (Germany)
Online: Sky Go (Germany)
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