Leverkusen beats Augsburg in Bundesliga

BERLIN - Lucas Alario's brace paved the way for Bayer Leverkusen's 3-1 win over Augsburg in the closer of the fifth round in Bundesliga on Monday.

Augsburg had the better start on the road, as Michael Gregoritsch created the first half-chance for the visitors in the 7th minute.

Leverkusen needed 12 minutes to get its first shot on target as Leon Bailey shot into the arms of Augsburg goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz.

Even though Augsburg was the more active team, it was the hosts who opened the scoring by courtesy of Augsburg defender Raphael Framberger who handled the ball inside the box leading to a penalty. Alario kept his nerve from the spot and broke the deadlock with a well placed penalty.

Leverkusen continued on the front foot, but neither Bailey nor Nadiem Amiri was able to overcome Gikiewicz despite promising chances before half time.

The hosts started highly motivated into the second half, but for all that Augsburg restored parity out of the blue after Ruben Vargas' build-up work allowed Daniel Caligiuri to hammer home from the edge of the box into the near post corner in the 51st minute.

Both sides traded attacks, but Leverkusen posed more of a threat in front of the target as Bailey rattled the woodwork with a follow up shot from close range in the 66th minute.

Leverkusen eventually took the lead again in the 74th minute when Amiri's pinpoint free kick into the area found Alario, who nodded home his second goal of the night.

Augsburg pressed forward and goalkeeper Gikiewicz left his territory to help his teammates with a corner at the other end of pitch. However, Gikiewicz effort did not pay off as Leverkusen cleared the corner kick to put the result beyond doubt through Moussa Diaby, who tapped home a fast break into the open goal.

With the result, the "Werkself" sealed its second straight win to jump into 4th place meanwhile Augsburg suffered its second defeat to slump to 11th.