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Augsburg didn't have much to laugh about in Leverkusen: Daniel Caliguri (below) is approached by Daley Sinkgraven
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FRIEDEMANN VOGEL / POOL / EPA-EFE / Shutterstock
Bayer Leverkusen is the new fourth in the Bundesliga.
Against FC Augsburg from former coach Heiko Herrlich, the Leverkusen won 3-1 (1-0).
Lucas Alario put Leverkusen in the lead twice (16th minute, 74th), Daniel Caliguri had meanwhile equalized (51st).
Moussa Diaby put the final point in stoppage time (90 + 4).
Herrlich had trained in Leverkusen from July 2017 to December 2018.
The game was not as clear as the result.
Augsburger knew how to convince with an early pressing and caused the hosts some problems.
However, Raphael Framberger ruined the good Augsburg opening phase by clumsily touching an outstretched arm to a header from Alario in his own penalty area.
Alario himself turned into the lead (16th).
Leverkusen could not build on the gala against Nice, last Thursday the team of coach Peter Bosz had won 6-2 in the Europa League.
Bayer was only dangerous in the first half by a long-range shot from Nadiem Amiri (28th).
The big penalty area scenes were also missing on the other side, and a tough game developed.
Unlucky was Lars Bender, who had to be replaced in the first half with a facial injury after a collision with Iago.
Augsburg still with luck
The game picked up speed in the second half.
Moussa Diaby missed the big chance to make it 2-0 when he made the wrong choice with a cross pass in front of Gikiewicz (48th).
That should take revenge, because Caligiuri managed to equalize shortly afterwards after a fine pass from substitute Ruben Vargas when he pulled in from the right side of the penalty area and completed the short corner (51.).
As a result, Augsburg was lucky.
When the hosts had a double chance, Gikiewicz saved a shot from Florian Wirtz, and Leon Bailey hit the crossbar (66th).
Then Alario hit the post with his head (72.).
Alario scored in the second attempt: two minutes after he hit the post, a free-kick from Nadiem Amiri nodded to renew the lead (74th).
After Augsburg goalkeeper Rafael Gikiewicz also rushed forward in stoppage time, Diaby hit the empty goal in a counterattack (90 + 4).
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hba / dpa
