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Dortmund take top spot
Before Leverkusen and Bayern battle do battle, it was Borussia Dortmund’s turn. BVB made no mistake on Saturday with an Erling Haaland brace adding to an early Marco Reus strike to secure a 3-1 win over Mainz. Both Leverkusen and Bayern are two points back, meaning Dortmund stay top with a draw but a winner in Sunday’s game will see that side take the lead.
Elsewhere in the Bundesliga on Saturday, Freiburg drew 1-1 with RB Leipzig, Union Berlin beat Wolfsburg 2-0, Hertha Berlin won 2-1 in Frankfurt and Bochum won the battle of the promoted clubs, beating Greuther Fürth 1-0 away.
Battle of the teen talents
Two of Germany’s brightest young talents, Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala will likely line up against each other on Sunday and the praise for the 18-year-old pair has been universal this week.
Bayern president Herbert Hainer called them “the two young stars who are shaping German football at the moment,” while Seoane said: “Both are players with extremely high offensive potential, both are technically very gifted, both make very good decisions in the final third and are goal-hungry. Both have a good future in the national team.”
Rumors have already started that Wirtz may join the Bavarians in the future, as is the way with any young German talent.
Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz have both broken in to the Germany setup
Likely lineups
The Werkself will be without Robert Andrich, who serves the final match of his suspension for a red card against Stuttgart but Mitchel Bakker could return.
Bayern are without Benjamin Pavard, also suspended, and Niklas Süle is expected to get the nod over Josip Stanisic, who signed a new contract earlier in the week. Kingsley Coman is a doubt.
Bayer Leverkusen possible starting XI:
Hradecky; Frimpong, Kossounou, Tah, Bakker; Aranguiz, Demirbay; Bellarabi, Wirtz, Diaby; Schick
Bayern Munich possible starting XI:
Neuer, Süle, Upamecano, Hernandez, Davies; Goretzka, Kimmich; Gnabry, Müller, Sane; Lewandowski
What the coaches say
Julian Nagelsmann, Bayern Munich: “I’m expecting it to be an exciting game to watch. Both teams like to attack […] They have become a solid unit and have a strong team spirit. We will need to play to our best, but we are confident we can do that.”
“When two teams that are next to each other in table face off, then it always makes for a good game. Bayern against Leverkusen has always been an exciting fixture. We are looking forward to it.”
Gerardo Seoane, Bayer Leverkusen: “We are looking forward to the game and to a full stadium. We know that it will be a tough game, but we have the ambition to compete with the top teams.”
“We need courage and aggression to press high, but also the understanding to stand deep at times. It will be extremely important that we do both together with the whole team.”
Hello and welcome
After Germany secured their passage to Qatar 2022, and then confirmed they wouldn’t boycott the tournament, we’re back to domestic football with a big one.
Bayer Leverkusen have started life under Gerardo Seoane very nicely indeed, and sit level on points with Julian Nagelsmann’s Bayern, who lost to Eintracht Frankfurt last time out.
But we’ve been here before. Most recently last season, when Leverkusen blew the chance to go in to 2021 at the top of the pile after handing the Bavarians a 2-1 win, the initiative and the table lead, which they never let up. Kick off is on Sunday at 14:30.
Bundesliga live: Bayer Leverkusen vs. Bayern Munich
Source: Pinoy Pop News
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