Will home-weak Fuggerstädter stumble over the Werkself again?

After five wins in a row and a strong run to catch up in the table, Bayer Leverkusen were brought back down to earth a bit on Sunday in a 2-0 home defeat to Borussia Dortmund. The Werkself thus slipped back to ninth place and is eight points behind sixth place. Now, however, the Rhinelanders are hosting a declared favourite opponent, which is why betting on the Werkself’s next win in Augsburg vs Leverkusen is very interesting.

After all, Leverkusen have never lost an away game in Augsburg before and only suffered their first ever defeat against the Bavarian Swabians in the first leg when they lost 2-1 at home to the Fuggerstädter in their 25th meeting. In addition, FCA are anything but strong at home, which means that the prediction for Augsburg against Leverkusen clearly goes to the guests from the Rhineland.

No team in the Bundesliga has scored less at home (only eight points), won less often at home (only two victories) and scored fewer goals in front of their own fans (only eight) than FC Augsburg, who are consequently in a direct relegation spot in the league’s home table. Accordingly, betting on an away win for the Werkself, who recently celebrated two away victories in a row, is a good play.

Augsburg – Statistics & current form

For twelve years, FC Augsburg has been part of the Bundesliga and has experienced some ups and downs in that long time. How the 2022/23 season will be assessed remains to be seen. However, the interim result is certainly not too positive. With only two points ahead of the relegation places, FCA are currently only in 14th place.

The Fuggerstädter have already lost ten of their first 18 league games. Never before in their twelve-year history have the Bavarian Swabians lost more games in the Bundesliga after 18, the only time they lost as many was in the 2012/13 season, when they only just managed to stay in the relegation places with 33 points.

Only won one of 25 games against Leverkusen

Similarly, things could be tight for Augsburg this season. With a haul of three points out of a possible nine after the World Cup break, the Fuggerstädter once again failed to make much of an impact (one win, two defeats).

Now, too, the odds are clearly against the Bavarian Swabians in the match between Augsburg and Leverkusen, who will be hosting a declared fearful opponent at the WWK Arena. In the first leg, Enrico Maaßen’s team recorded their first ever win against the Werkself in what was already their 25th meeting.

The weakest home offensive in the Bundesliga

FCA’s most recent win at home against Borussia Mönchengladbach (1-0) is encouraging, but it cannot hide their generally abysmal home record. Only two of the nine games in the WWK-Arena so far have been won (two draws, five defeats).

The tame offensive in their own stadium was particularly responsible for this. In front of their own fans, the Fuggerstädter have scored just eight goals in total. Even last-placed Schalke can boast more home goals (10). FC Augsburg thus occupy a direct relegation place in the Bundesliga home table.

Predicted line-up of Augsburg:
Gikiewicz – Colina – Uduokhai – Gouweleeuw – Gumny – Rexhbecaj – Engels – Yeboah – Maier – Beljo – Berisha

Last matches played by Augsburg:

Bundesliga
28/01/2023 – SC Freiburg 3 – 1 Augsburg

26/01/2023 – Augsburg 1 – 0 Gladbach

22/01/2023 – Borussia Dortmund 4 – 3 Augsburg

Club friendlies
14/01/2023 – Augsburg 1 – 0 VfL Wolfsburg

14/01/2023 – Augsburg 0 – 4 VfL Wolfsburg

Leverkusen – Statistics & current form

Bayer Leverkusen still have the image of the eternal runners-up, especially due to their success at the beginning of the current millennium. Most recently, however, the team once referred to as “Vizekusen” no longer played a role in the fight for the title. The Rhinelanders celebrated their last vice-championship in the 2010/11 season.

In four of the last six years, the Werkself also missed out on qualifying for the Champions League, in which Leverkusen was one of the Bundesliga’s perennial favourites with 13 appearances.

The first defeat after five victories in a row

The season so far has been correspondingly disappointing, with Gerardo Seoane, who led Leverkusen to third place in the final table last season, having already been sacked. Under Xabi Alonso, it took a few teething problems. Recently, however, the Rhinelanders rolled up the field from behind.

The Werkself celebrated five victories in a row, which brought them back within touching distance of the European starting positions. On Sunday, however, Borussia Dortmund put a stop to their race to catch up. Bayer lost 0:2 against BVB.

Last two away wins in a row

Never the less, the 15 out of a possible 18 points from the last six league games is still an outstanding figure. The Rhinelanders also won their last two league games in a row away from home and could now record three Bundesliga away wins in a row for the first time since October 2021.

In principle, betting on an away win for Augsburg against Leverkusen is also a good idea. Not only are Xabi Alonso’s men playing one of the weakest teams in the league at home, but they are also playing an opponent who has never lost in eleven Bundesliga matches (seven wins, four draws).

Predicted Leverkusen line-up:
Hradecky – Hincapie – Tapsoba – Tah – Frimpong – Andrich – Amiri – Palacios – Wirtz – Diaby – Adli

Last matches played by Leverkusen:

Bundesliga
29/01/2023 – Bayer Leverkusen 0 – 2 Borussia Dortmund

26/01/2023 – Bayer Leverkusen 2 – 0 VfL Bochum

22/01/2023 – Gladbach 2 – 3 Bayer Leverkusen

Club friendlies
15/01/2023 – Bayer Leverkusen 1 – 0 FC Copenhagen

07/01/2023 – Bayer Leverkusen 2 – 1 Venice

Augsburg – Leverkusen Direct comparison / H2H balance

Head to head: 1 – 7 – 17

25 times both teams have faced each other so far and with 17 wins Leverkusen clearly leads the direct comparison. FC Augsburg celebrated their first ever win against the Werkself in the first leg on 13 August 2022 in a 2-1 away victory at the BayArena.

Augsburg – Leverkusen Tip

For Augsburg against Leverkusen, the prediction goes to the guests from the Rhineland for three valid reasons. Firstly, FCA is one of the weakest teams in the league at home and scored just eight goals at home – the worst value in the Bundesliga. Secondly, the Werkself has picked up 15 out of a possible 18 points from the last six league games and has shown itself to be much stronger, especially with the return of Florian Wirtz. And thirdly, Leverkusen have only lost one of 25 competitive matches against the Fuggerstädter.

Although the Bavarian Swabians have already managed a very surprising 1-0 home win against Bayern and Gladbach in the 2022/23 season. In this constellation, however, we consider the bet on an away win for the Werkself to be almost without alternative.