Xabi Alonso goes in search of his seventh Bundesliga win as Bayer Leverkusen head coach on Friday night when Die Werkself face Augsburg at the WWK Arena, kick-off 20:30 local time.
A win would see Bayer climb above Borussia Mönchengladbach, who play Schalke in the Topspiel, into eighth. Under Alonso, Die Werkself have vastly improved and prior to last weekend’s defeat against Borussia Dortmund, have won their last five Bundesliga games.
We can expect to see Bayer Leverkusen using the same players they did against BVB. Florian Wirtz ahead of Moussa Diaby, Nadiem Amiri and Amine Adli with Robert Andrich and Exequiel Palacios in a double-pivot.
Defensively, don’t expect much to change either. But with a yellow card against Augsburg, Jonathan Tah will miss the game against Hoffenheim after picking up five this season.
As for Augsburg, expect January arrival Dion Beljo to start alongside Mergim Berisha in attack again. Two points above the relegation playoff, FCA are in need of a win.
Predicted Bayer Leverkusen vs Augsburg
Lukas Hradecky – Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah, Edmond Tapsoba, Piero Hincapié – Robert Andrich, Exequiel Palacios – Moussa Diaby, Nadiem Amiri, Amine Adli – Florian Wirtz.
GGFN | Daniel Pinder