17th matchday
Leverkusen celebrates late: Palacios scores to win in Augsburg
Exequiel Palacios (r) scored Leverkusen’s victory in stoppage time. photo
© Harry Langer/dpa
Bayer Leverkusen are creating chance after chance even without Boniface and initially Wirtz. Nevertheless, it is far from enough to score a goal in Augsburg. Until Palacios secured first place after the first half of the season.
Xabi Alonso’s team maintained their unbeaten reputation in their 26th competitive game this season in front of 30,055 spectators, thus completing their impressive Bundesliga first half of the season undefeated. The lead over FC Bayern is still four points, but the Munich team still has a catch-up game in hand.
No Victor Boniface (adductor injury), no Edmond Tapsoba and no Odilon Kossounou (both Africa Cup of Nations) – the loss of top performers was only noticeable in the early stages of Xabi Alonso’s team. The Leverkusen team needed a few minutes to start the combination engine against a cleverly positioned Augsburg selection. Coach Jess Thorup’s hosts disrupted things early and offered a well-thought-out layout.
FCA under constant pressure
However, as the game went on, Augsburg’s moments of relief became rarer. Patrik Schick, who was called up for Boniface in the center of the attack, got around Augsburg goalkeeper Finn Dahmen with a bit of luck in the 19th minute, but defender Felix Uduokhai saved just before the goal line. Artistic shooter Alejandro Grimaldo (28th) then failed to hit the crossbar from 18 meters. And against a header from Robert Andrich (37th) from close range, Dahmen had to use his abdominal muscles to save.
And FC Augsburg? It initially withstood the constant pressure. Captain Ermedin Demirovic (22nd) even took on Leverkusen’s entire back three at one point and caused quite a murmur in the stands with his right-footed shot, which, however, flew past the right post.
Xabi Alonso initially also did without defender Jonathan Tah, who faces a yellow card suspension, and playmaker Florian Wirtz. Robert Andrich acted as the central man in the three-man chain, while Wirtz was rested a bit after a cold. “Florian Wirtz had a small problem during the training week. There is more risk if he plays from the start,” Xabi Alonso explained on Sky TV before kick-off.
With the addition of Wirtz as a substitute in the last half hour, Leverkusen increased the number of hits again. But they had to pause when the video referee intervened because Augsburg striker Phillip Tietz (72′) was in an offside position – but his supposed goal was disallowed even after looking through the TV images. Palacios then scored the wildly celebrated winning goal.