- Venue: BayArena, Leverkusen
- Date and time: Saturday, February 10, 17:30 GMT
- Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich
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Top of the table clash at the BayArena
Leaders Bayer Leverkusen take on second placed Bayern Munich at the BayArena on Saturday. It goes without saying that the game that is extremely important for both teams. If Leverkusen win, Bayern could find it difficult to regain a five point lead while a win for Bayern would move them to the top of the table.
Bayer Leverkusen
Former Spanish international midfielder Xavi Alonso has done an outstanding job at Bayer Leverkusen, since taking over as head coach in the Autumn of 2022. With 20 rounds played, his team tops the 1.Bundesliga, two points ahead of Bayern Munich.
In total, Leverkusen have taken 52 points in 20 games, giving them an average of 2.6 points per game, which is the best in Europe’s five leading leagues.
If Leverkusen were to take all three points against Bayern, they would be in a prime position to snuff out the German record champions for the league title.
In the last round of the 1.Bundesliga, Leverkusen took a comfortable 2-0 victory against bottom team Darmstadt away.
Ahead of the top of the table meeting with Bayern, Leverkusen have three players out with injury. Exequiel Palacios, Victor Boniface and Arthur. In addition to the injured trio, Alonso has to do without Odilon Kossounou, who is playing the African Championships with Ivory Coast.
Bayern Munich
The injuries continue to mount up for Bayern Munich and, leading into a match against the league leaders, things are hardly ideal for boss Thomas Tuchel. Ahead of Saturday’s fixture, the German champions have no less than eleven players out due to injuries.
In addition, defender Kim Min-jae, is on international duty at the Asian Championships with South Korea. With twelve players out, it is not easy for Tuchel to find the right starting eleven. Six of the players who are missing,Gnabry, Kimmich, Upamecano, Davies, Coman and Laimer, are arguably part of Bayern’s strongest 11.
Against Borussia Mönchengladbach Bayern ran out 3-1 winners. Tuchel again elected to start with 19-year-old Aleksandar Pavlovic, his second consecutive start in the Bundesliga this season. Pavlovic once again repaid Tuchel for the trust shown in him with goals.
Harry Kane also found the net, taking him to 24 goals and 5 assists. While Bayern will be fully focussed on the task, the pace of their season is set to pick up once more, with a trip to Rome’s Olympic Stadium to face Lazio in the Champions League next on the agenda.
game that is extremely important for both teams. If Leverkusen win, Bayern could find it difficult to regain a five point lead while a win for Bayern would move them to the top of the league.
Possible starting XI Bayer Leverkusen – Bayern Munich
Likely starting XIs Leverkusen – Bayern. Official line ups are released about an hour before kick-off.
Bayer Leverkusen: Hradecky – Stanisic, Tah, Hincapie – Frimpong, Andrich, Xhaka, Grimaldo – Hofmann, Wirtz – Schick
Bayern Munich: Neuer – Boey, Dier, De Ligt, Guerreiro – Goretzka, Guerreiro – Musiala, Muller, Sane – Kane
Check out the best betting sites in the UK and the top bookmakers for the Bundesliga ahead of making your picks for this top of the table clash.
Prediction
Leverkusen have not lost a football match since July 29, 2023 when they fell to Real Sociedad in a friendly. To find the last time Leverkusen lost a competitive game, we have to go all the way back to May 27, 2023 when they lostl to Bochum away 3-0. Yes, it is certainly not an easy task that awaits Tuchel’s side here.
The home advantage should not be underestimated and with all the injury problems that Bayern have, who may feel satisfied with a draw here. Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals clearly feels interesting here. Leverkusen have only gone clean once at home this season while Bayern have scored at least one goal in every away game in 2023/24.
Bayern need to win this one to stay in the race and we think that they will do that. Away win.
