AUGSBURG
Manager: Enrico Maassen
Key Arrivals: Breithaupt (Karlsruhe), Berisha (Fenerbahce), Michel (Union Berlin), Tietz (Darmstadt), Okugawa (Bielefeld), Ehrlich (Dynamo Dresden), Dahmen (Mainz), Pfeiffer (Darmstadt)
Key Departures: Pepi (PSV)
Prediction: One of the worst teams in the Bundesliga in the second half of last season, winning only four out of 17 fixtures. Apart from Germany international striker Mergim Berisha, they may not have sufficient quality to break out of that downward spiral.
BAYER LEVERKUSEN
Manager: Xabi Alonso
Key Arrivals: Arthur (America Mineiro), Grimaldo (Benfica), Xhaka (Arsenal), Hofmann (M’gladbach),
Key Departures: Bellarabi (released), Bakker (Atalanta), Paulinho (Atletico Mineiro), Sinkgraven (Las Palmas)
Alonso performed a minor miracle on taking over from Gerardo Seoane in October, steering Leverkusen from17th place to a lofty sixth and, thanks to an impressive summer recruitment drive, a top-four finish should not be beyond them.
