Fall champions

After initial problems with FC Augsburg, who were aggressive at the start, Black & Red took control of the game from the middle of the first half and gave Augsburg fewer and fewer opportunities to breathe. Despite this, the game went into half-time goalless, the third time in 26 games that Bayer had failed to score in the first half. The Werkself exerted pressure on the committed FCA defense until the end, but it was only in stoppage time that Bayer finally managed to reward themselves: Grimaldo delivered a cross into the center of the penalty area, where Pala was in the right place to fire the ball into the net in stoppage time for the 1-0 final score (90.+4).

All in all, one continues to be amazed: the belief in the victory was very high. The morale, the commitment, the mentality of this team - it's all admirable. That clearly distinguishes this year's team from those of previous years. The statistics of the game were actually also clear and underline the fact that the late victory was fully deserved. The Werkself fired a total of 24 shots on goal against Augsburg, but only the last one found its way into the net. It was the second most chances on goal in a match this season, only against Darmstadt did Leverkusen try more often (25). The other figures in the game against FCA also speak for themselves: 75.9% possession, twelve corners to zero and 786 passes played to 252.

The statistics continue: The win means that the Werkself finish the first half of the season on top for the third time after the 2001/02 and 2009/10 seasons. Black & Red can also look back on the best first half of a season in the club's history and the third-best points haul after a first half in the history of the Bundesliga (45). Only Bayern have ever had more points at this stage (47 in 2013/14 and 46 in 2015/16). And now we travel to Leipzig next Saturday with a broad chest.