Bayern Munich needs to overcome the disappointment brought on by Leverkusen.
At Bayern Munich, the agony of an unremarkable campaign without trophies is palpable. Today, Bayer Leverkusen, double champions, make their visit (18.30 Uhr/Sky and live on ntv.de). Bayern's confidence is high, thanks to their impressive showings in recent matches. "We've earned the right to approach this match with optimism," stated sporting director Christoph Freund. However, Thomas Müller cautions, "Facing Leverkusen, you're confronted with a truly formidable opponent."
Bayer's coach, Xabi Alonso, who donned the Munich jersey from 2014 to 2017, anticipates a lively atmosphere in the packed stadium with 75,000 spectators. "We have a solid game plan, must not shy away, and should not leave too much space. We need a near-perfect performance to extract any points from Munich," Alonso said. The highly anticipated clash between the reigning champions and the dominant team promises numerous thrilling encounters.
Coach
Vincent Kompany's introduction as Bayern's coach took some time. Alonso was also highly regarded, but he chose to remain with Leverkusen. Kompany does not derive any additional motivation from this. "I'm genuinely enjoying myself here. I'm putting in an immense amount of effort and aim to earn every accolade. Everything else is insignificant," said the 38-year-old Belgian. "Vincent has a positive influence on the team. They perform with immense enthusiasm and have innovative ideas," praised Alonso.
Midfield Maverick
The debate surrounding the merit of Jamal Musiala versus Florian Wirtz continues. Both young German talent are poised to become global superstars. Freund is a firm supporter of Musiala, primarily due to their shared club ties. "He's a terrific kid and is playing some outstanding football," Freund said. "He's in excellent form." Musiala has netted three goals in the Bundesliga this season, while Wirtz has managed four. "His start has been incredibly impressive," said Alonso.
Musiala not only excels on offense but also leads the way in defensive duels (86) for Bayern. His win percentage of 54 percent for an offensive player is remarkable. It's similar for Wirtz. The national player has also been involved in the most defensive duels for Leverkusen (51 wins out of 109, a success rate of 47 percent).
Goal Getters
The duel between Harry Kane and Victor Boniface could prove to be the deciding factor. Kane, Bayern's top scorer, led the league table with five goals after the initial four games. The English national team captain was directly involved in nine of the first 16 Bundesliga goals scored by Bayern in those four matches. Kane has recently managed eleven goal-related play in a single week.
Boniface has netted three goals in the league this season. With his muscular physique and technical prowess, he is a challenging adversary. Boniface has launched the most shots targeting the opposite team's goal in the Bundesliga this season: 20 shots. In addition to his three goals, he has also assisted and is currently Leverkusen's second-highest scorer, trailing only behind Wirtz.
The potential decider could be the midfield engagement between Joshua Kimmich and Granit Xhaka. Following Kompany's decision to relocate Kimmich from the right-back position to the midfield center, the new national team captain's performance has been exemplary. Kimmich has been one of the most ball-possession players in the league (473 touches), his pass accuracy is remarkable at 93%, and his running distance of 49.1 kilometers is second only to Frankfurt's Ellyes Skhiri. At Leverkusen, Xhaka is a dominant figure. He is the most ball-possession player at Leverkusen in the first four matchdays (442 touches) and has won 66% of his duels. During the championship-winning season, he was able to turn the tide in 55% of his direct confrontations.
Bayer Leverkusen's midfield maestro, Granit Xhaka, will face Bayern Munich's star midfielder, Joshua Kimmich, in an intriguing duel. Kimmich's exceptional performances since moving to the midfield center under Vincent Kompany have been notable, with his high pass accuracy and running distance.
The clash between the two powerhouse teams in soccer, Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen, promises intense midfield battles, including the encounter between these two talented midfielders.
