Augsburg vs Bayer Leverkusen preview - Bellarabi commits to Leverkusen

Bayer Leverkusen had some good news to report on Friday as they announced that Germany international Karim Bellarabi had extended his contract with the club until 2020.

His signing was a show of faith in coach Roger Schmidt, who is otherwise coming under pressure ahead of Saturday's trip to Augsburg, with Leverkusen currently sixth in the standings and 11 points worse off than a year ago.

"I've taken a huge step forwards in my development under Schmidt this season," said Bellarabi on his club's website, showing his support for the former Salzburg coach.

"Under his instruction and in his system, I have become a much better player.

"Even in the times before that, when I had to fight with niggling injuries and spent time out on loan at Eintracht Braunschweig, I always felt that Leverkusen believed in me and that I was needed here.

"But the sort of faith I have been shown by Roger Schmidt is something I've never enjoyed before and I will do everything I can to pay him and Leverkusen back."

He will have a lot of convincing to do to club bosses over the next few days, with Schmidt and Leverkusen facing a pivotal week in their season.

After Saturday's trip to Augsburg, who are two points ahead of them in the Bundesliga, they host Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday with their future in Europe in the balance.

Stopping them could be Marwin Hitz, who is now back in training and keen to win back his number one jersey from Alexander Manninger after injury.

With Manninger, 37, in such good form since replacing his team-mate in December, Hitz's return will give coach Markus Weinzierl a headache, although the Austrian conceded three goals in last weekend's defeat to Bremen and that could provide the argument for Hitz to be included.