Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen: How do they stack up?
A titanic tussle is promised as a new-look Bayern Munich aim to cement a dream start to the season against Xabi Alonso's well-oiled title-winning machine in Bayer Leverkusen. We run the rule through where the big match could be decided.
With compelling arguments to be made for the strength of either side, it could be a true belter when the title rivals lock horns at the Allianz Arena.
Momentum meets momentum
A point that requires considering is the simply staggering form that both sides take into the encounter. Hosts Bayern could not have possibly hoped for a better start to the season under new coach Vincent Kompany.
The Bavarians have flown out of the traps and then accelerated some more to take six wins out of six in all competitions, go top of the Bundesliga table for the first time in a year and smash an incredible 20 goals in three fixtures over the course of a week.
Watch: Highlights as Bayern put five past Werder Bremen
Champions Leverkusen are in their own mean form though, recovering from their first Bundesliga defeat in over a season against RB Leipzig to rack up four goals in each of their past three matches in all competitions - including a 4-0 UEFA Champions League success at Feyenoord that was no less formidable than Bayern's 9-2 home win over Dinamo Zagreb.
Significantly, Leverkusen showed that they still have their amazing ability to strike decisive late goals, with Victor Boniface's stoppage-time winner over Wolfsburg. With both sides brimming in self-belief, there are no easy indications in the formbook as to how the big match will go, despite the thoroughly pleasant reading.
Watch: Late Boniface goal as Leverkusen seal seven-goal thriller
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A pair of aces
If anyone was somehow in any denial about the extraordinary extent of Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz's ability, the start of the current campaign has confirmed just how lucky the Bundesliga is to witness two perfect playmakers at the peak of their powers.
Wirtz's output of four goals and one assists in just four appearances this season puts him well on course to match or better the 22 goal involvements he notched up on the way to Leverkusen's historic title win last season. Indeed, the attacking jewel has been involved in more shots than any other player in the Bundesliga so far this season (32).
Watch: Musiala vs. Wirtz - A duel of midfield magicians
Three goals so far in the Bundesliga and two assists in Bayern's runaway Champions League opening win are a handsome haul for Musiala too - with the fastest goal of the season so far being scored by him against Holstein Kiel after a mere 15 seconds, and his eight shots against Bremen being more than any other player in a single match this campaign.
The eye is confirming what the stats are showing, namely that the 21-year-old has taken the confidence gained from a great UEFA Euro 2024, which he finished as joint top scorer, and asserted himself as a key part of Kompany's new-looking attacking line with his unique blend of freedom and finesse.
Artful attacks
The staggering scoring form of both sides becomes a little more understandable when you look at their range of world-class attacking options. New Bayern signing Michael Olise has proved to be every bit the wing wizard, with Werder Bremen's defenders just as dazzled as everyone else by the darting runs and slick play that took him to two goals and two assists in that encounter alone.
Watch: Get set for Goaltoberfest!
With Serge Gnabry also relishing life under Kompany - with two goals and two assists in his first four Bundesliga appearances - and the unstoppable Harry Kane once again racing to the front of the top scorers' race, Bayern's attack is a formidable force that would surely test any defence in world football.
Should Leverkusen somehow keep all of those quiet, there is the added attacking thrust of the likes of Aleksandar Pavlović, Alphonso Davies or Raphaël Guerreiro from deep available, while Kingsley Coman, Leroy Sané and Thomas Müller are wonderful options to have - especially as impact players from the bench.
As hard as it might seem to match that level of firepower, a fully functioning Leverkusen arguably do, with Boniface back to his bustling best and smashing three goals in three appearances this season.
Watch: Victor Boniface analysis
With the flying full-back pairing of Jeremie Frimpong and Alejandro Grimaldo looking as sharp as ever, new signing Martin Terrier offering a new attacking option along with Amine Adli, Patrik Schick also raring to lead the line and Granit Xhaka ready to pop up with his trademark testing long-range efforts, it is impossible to find a fault in Alonso's attacking riches, either.
Defensive dynamics
Champions Leverkusen have a dependable back three ready to rise to the challenge of shutting out Bayern again - having kept a clean sheet in a statement 3-0 win in Matchday 21 en route to their unbeaten title win last season. Jonathan Tah, Edmond Tapsoba and Piero Hincapie could well be shielded by the battling Robert Andrich once more.
Tah has looked imperious so far, playing every single minute of Leverkusen's first four matches and boasting the second-best challenges won ratio in the league (73%). Alonso might be minded to sharpen his defence's senses leading up to the big match, however, with only three sides in the Bundesliga conceding more than Leverkusen's nine so far this season.
Watch: How Alonso has got the better of Bayern so far
Dayot Upamecano and Minjae Kim have emerged as Kompany's first-choice central defensive pairing given the high line that the Belgian likes to deploy. It can be presumed they will both start against Leverkusen, with the Frenchman winning 64% of his challenges so far this season and the Korean 67%, although Eric Dier remains an option should the Bayern coach want to switch things up.
Two clean sheets in their opening four Bundesliga ties - including in Bayern's only home fixture so far against Freiburg - make an encouraging case for the Bavarians' defence. One big decision facing Kompany will be whether to select the more forward-focused Pavlović alongside Joshua Kimmich in the deep midfield two or opt for the added steel that new signing João Palhinha could offer.
Watch: Aleksandar Pavlovic - from ball boy to Bayern player
Clash of coaches
The stunning 3-0 win Leverkusen recorded over Bayern in February was one of many standout performances in a staggeringly successful 2023/24 season for Alonso. With his side recovering well from a blip against Leipzig, he will likely ask for more of the same for his side in the next meeting with Bayern - seizing control of the play and suffocating the Bavarians with their intent - while trusting his charges to get the job done.
While Alonso was the hot young coaching talent last season, this time his counterpart on the Bayern dugout is four years his junior. It is impossible to say 38-year-old Kompany has put a foot wrong so far, with Bayern noticeably conjuring up the kind of intensity lately that Leverkusen were able to force their way past all-comers with during the last campaign.
Clearly the visit of Leverkusen represents the toughest calibre of opposition and therefore the greatest test to Kompany's perfect start, but the same could be said of Bayern being the biggest test yet of Alonso's aim to inspire Leverkusen to a repeat of their heroics.
The two sides could hardly be better set. So sit back, get yourself some popcorn and get ready to enjoy a clash that could well set the tone for the rest of the season.
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