Buendía shines for Leverkusen in Augsburg win | OneFootball

Emiliano Buendía inspires Bayer Leverkusen to comfortable Augsburg win

Bayer Leverkusen's slim hopes of retaining their Bundesliga crown remain alive following a 2-0 win over Augsburg on Matchday 31 – the crucial points coming courtesy of first-half goals from Patrik Schick and Emiliano Buendía.

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Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 AugsburgGoals: 1-0 Schick 13’ (assist: Tella), 2-0 Buendía 45+1’

In a match crucial for their title aspirations, Bayer Leverkusen hosted Augsburg at the BayArena on Matchday 31. The home side, looking to keep pace with league leaders Bayern Munich, knew that anything less than a win could effectively end their championship dreams. Xabi Alonso's men were determined to bounce back from recent draws, while Jess Thorup's Augsburg aimed to continue their positive development and climb up the table.

Patrik Schick opens the scoring for Leverkusen with a clinical finish past the Augsburg defence. (IMAGO/Maik Hölter/TEAM2sportphoto)

Leverkusen started the match with intent, dominating possession and creating early chances. Their efforts were rewarded in the 13th minute when Patrik Schick broke the deadlock. The Czech striker latched onto a pass from Nathan Tella following a swift counter-attack, and fired a powerful shot from just outside the box that took a slight deflection before nestling in the net. Augsburg struggled to create clear opportunities, with Leverkusen's midfield duo of Granit Xhaka and Robert Andrich controlling the tempo of the game. In the 25th minute, Leverkusen thought they had doubled their lead when Tella headed in a cross, but VAR intervened to rule it offside. Just before half-time, Emiliano Buendía made it 2-0 with a well-placed shot from inside the box, sending the home fans into raptures.

Samuel Essende of Augsburg challenges for an aerial ball against Leverkusen defenders, showcasing the visitors' increased attacking intent in the second half. (INA FASSBENDER)

The second half saw a shift in momentum as Augsburg pushed for a way back into the match. Leverkusen adopted a more defensive stance, inviting pressure from the visitors. Augsburg's increased attacking intent led to several chances, with Samuel Essende coming close on two occasions. In the 62nd minute, Essende broke through Leverkusen's defence but his shot from a tight angle flew wide of the far post. Leverkusen's goalkeeper, Matěj Kovář, was called into action in the 71st minute, making a crucial save to deny Alexis Claude-Maurice. Despite Augsburg's improved performance, they couldn't find the breakthrough. Leverkusen had opportunities to extend their lead, with Jonas Hofmann narrowly missing the target in the 79th minute. In the end, Alonso's side managed the game well to secure a vital 2-0 victory, keeping their slim title hopes alive.

Player of the Match: Emiliano Buendía

Buendía was the standout performer, delivering a match-winning display for Leverkusen. The Argentine playmaker not only scored a crucial goal but his creativity and vision were evident throughout the match. He consistently troubled the Augsburg defence with his intelligent movement and precise passing. His goal, a well-placed shot from inside the box, showcased his technical ability and composure under pressure. With 14 successful duels won, more than any other player on the field, Buendía also contributed significantly to Leverkusen's defensive efforts.

Bundesliga Match FactsxGoals: Leverkusen 1.36 - Augsburg 0.8Fastest player: Chrislain Matsima (Augsburg), 34.67 km/hLowest goal probability: 2-0 by Buendía (Leverkusen), 4.15 percentMost pressed player: Florian Wirtz (Leverkusen), 26 times under pressurePass efficiency: Xhaka (Leverkusen), +3.1

Fantasy Heroes: Alejandro Grimaldo (Leverkusen, 247 Points), Buendía (Leverkusen, 217 Points), Xhaka (Leverkusen, 204 Points)

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