BERLIN: Augsburg striker Mergim Berisha scored a crucial second-half goal to secure a 1-0 home German Bundesliga win over Bayer Leverkusen on Friday.

Berisha headed in from a corner after 55 minutes to help an injury-hit Augsburg to just their sixth win of the season.

It was a second-straight league loss for Leverkusen, who had put together five consecutive wins to push themselves into contention for the European placings.

Chances were few in a first half played in teeming Bavarian rain as Leverkusen fell to a second successive league loss for the first time under Xabil Alonso.

The Leverkusen manager said his side was struggling to find penetration without injured striker Patrik Schick.

“We don’t have a striker, a number nine and a striker is important to attack and cause problems for the centre backs,” the former Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid player said. “Hopefully it will soon be fine —we are trying to find a solution.”

Leverkusen sit in ninth place, but could end the weekend as low as 12th depending on other results.

For Augsburg, the win was just their second since early October but took them five points clear of the relegation playoff spot.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2023