Football Bet of the Day: Bayer bounce to continue in Bavaria

Augsburg v Bayer Leverkusen
Friday February 17, 19:30
Live on BT Sport

No goals apiece in Greece last night, as our tip Olympiakos were held to a draw by Osmanlispor in the Europa League. We move on.

We're spending Friday night in Bavaria, as Augsburg prepare to take on Bayer Leverkusen.

It's been a tumultuous time for Leverkusen. Coach Roger Schmidt has been under increasing pressure, so much so that Sky Deutschland ran a story just before Saturday's game against Eintracht Frankfurt that Bayer had decided to replace the boss regardless of the result. Largely thanks to a brace from Chicharito, Bayer won 3-0, and sporting director Rudi Voeller demanded an apology from the chastened media outlet.

Bayer need to make up further ground on the top four, and although you never quite know what you're going to get from such an inconsistent side, I saw some great things against what had been a very strong Frankfurt defence.

Augsburg are still on the fringes of the relegation battle, and they were insipid in last Friday's 2-0 defeat at Mainz. Coach Manuel Baum was promoted from within to bring more style to FCA's play, but in his six league games in charge, the Swabians have managed just seven goals. Injury problems continue to take their toll, with attacking players Caiuby, Alfred Finnbogason and Ja-Cheol Koo all sidelined.

Augsburg mounted a late comeback to get out of jail in their last home game against Werder Bremen, and they lost the previous one 2-0 to Hoffenheim. I still think they have a lot of improving to do, and against a Bayer team with a point to prove, I think they may well come unstuck. The first goal in this match will be the 50,000th in Bundesliga history, and I think Leverkusen may well be the ones to make history this evening.

Recommended Bet
Back Bayer Leverkusen to win at 2.36