Match Preview: Augsburg vs. Bayer Leverkusen
Competition: Bundesliga Date: Saturday, 06 December 2025 Venue: WWK Arena, Augsburg
A struggling Augsburg side welcomes high-flying Bayer Leverkusen to the WWK Arena in a match where the trajectories of the two clubs could not be more different. The hosts are in crisis mode following a string of poor results, while the visitors arrive with renewed confidence after a massive midweek cup victory.
Augsburg Analysis
The situation at Augsburg has reached a boiling point. Following a dismal 3-0 defeat to Hoffenheim—their fourth loss in five league games—the club parted ways with head coach Sandro Wagner. The “Fuggerstädter” find themselves sitting precariously in 14th place, having managed only three wins in 12 matches.
Manuel Baum has stepped in as the interim manager until Christmas, returning to the dugout nine years after his first stint. He faces a monumental task immediately; the team’s defense has been calamitous, prone to individual errors, and unable to keep clean sheets. In their last outing, they were 3-0 down by halftime, highlighting a fragile mentality that Leverkusen will look to exploit.
Bayer Leverkusen Analysis
Leverkusen comes into this fixture buoyed by a gritty 1-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the DFB-Pokal, exacting revenge for their league defeat to the same opponent just days prior. That cup win demonstrated their tactical versatility; they can control possession but also grind out results when necessary.
In the Bundesliga, Leverkusen sit comfortably in 4th place. Their away form has been a particular highlight—they are described as a “train” on the road, often performing better away from the BayArena where they can utilize their blistering transition pace. With key players like Patrik Schick, Loic Badé, and Malik Tillman rested during the midweek cup tie, the visitors will be fresh and at full strength for this encounter.
Team News & Injuries
Augsburg: The hosts are dealing with significant absences. Captain and defensive leader Jeffrey Gouweleeuw is out, leaving a massive hole in an already leaky backline. Ismael Gharbi is also unavailable. On a positive note, defender Keven Schlotterbeck returns from suspension, but he walks into a defense under immense pressure.
Bayer Leverkusen: The visitors have a relatively clean bill of health regarding their core stars. The rotation in the cup means fresh legs for Patrik Schick, Malik Tillman, and Granit Xhaka (implied). Defenders like Lucas Vázquez and Exequiel Palacios remain long-term absentees, but the squad depth is sufficient to cover these losses.
Key Match Stats
Head-to-Head Dominance: Leverkusen has won 4 consecutive matches against Augsburg.
Augsburg’s Leaky Defense: Augsburg has conceded heavily recently, including 3 goals in their last match vs. Hoffenheim.
Away Form: Leverkusen has won 7 of their last 8 away matches in official competitions.
Goal Trends: Augsburg’s matches often see goals due to their defensive fragility; 5 of their last 10 games have gone Over 2.5 goals.
Betting Verdict
The gulf in class and current morale between these two sides is significant. Augsburg is in a transitional phase with an interim coach and a depleted defense missing its captain. Facing one of the league’s most potent attacks is the worst possible matchup for them right now.
Leverkusen tends to score freely against bottom-half teams, and given Augsburg’s tendency to concede multiple goals (and potentially grab a consolation goal under the “new manager bounce” energy), this game promises action. The straight away win is valuable, but combining it with goals boosts the value significantly.
Final Prediction: Away Win (2) & Over 1.5 Goals
Odds: ~2.10