Augsburg's surprise victory: Becker dismisses Wagner after bankruptcy!

Augsburg's surprise victory: Becker dismisses Wagner after bankruptcy!

On December 6, 2025, FC Augsburg was able to collect important points in the relegation battle in the 13th matchday of the Bundesliga. The team surprisingly defeated Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2-0. This means FCA now has 13 points and can breathe a sigh of relief in the bottom of the table. A real liberation for the team, which is still suffering from the dismissal of coach Sandro Wagner, who had to leave after only one win in the last seven competitive games.

Interim coach Manuel Baum, who previously served as head of development and football innovation, will take over until the winter break. And the first steps under his direction were quite promising. Augsburg appeared to be grippy and aggressive from the start, while Leverkusen had more possession of the ball but didn't really pose a threat. The people of Fuggerstadt set the first course. Dimitris Giannoulis gave the hosts the lead in the 6th minute after cleverly converting a long pass from Keven Schlotterbeck.

Leverkusen in shock mode

The guests from Leverkusen, who had celebrated a cup victory against Borussia Dortmund before this game, now suffered their second Bundesliga defeat in a row. Despite dominant ball possession statistics and good chances, including a shot off the post by Patrik Schick shortly before half-time (43rd minute), they were unable to score anything. Anton Kade followed up in the 25th minute and made it 2-0 with a header from a cross from Giannoulis. That was perfect for Augsburg's defense, which proved to be stable as the game progressed.

In the second half, Leverkusen's coach Hjulmand brought in new offensive forces, but the efforts remained fruitless. Although Ben Seghir hit the crossbar (66th minute) and Tella failed to hit the inside post (75th minute), FCA didn't let the lead be taken away from them. Augsburg's defensive strategy was effective and the team was able to save the home win despite Leverkusen's offensive efforts over time.

Next challenges

FC Augsburg face Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday at 3:30 p.m., another important duel in the fight to stay in the league. Leverkusen, on the other hand, have to play against Newcastle United in the Champions League on Wednesday and then play against 1. FC Köln on Saturday (6:30 p.m.), where they are desperate to rehabilitate themselves.

Coach changes are always a sensitive issue in football and there have been numerous coach changes in the Bundesliga since the 1963/1964 season. According to Statista, there were a large number of layoffs and new hires in the German professional temples up to the 2024/2025 season. Wagner wasn't the first to leave his post this season, which shows how fast-moving the business is. This dynamic has an impact on the performance of teams - the latest results speak volumes. Statista reports that the coaching chairs are also hotly contested in the current season.

The question remains: How will Augsburg develop under Baum? In this league it is important to find the right mix of trust and pressure. But the first steps were definitely a sign for Augsburg that they are ready to fight and give everything - a good hand that could pay off over the course of the season.

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