Behind leaders Bayern Munich and surprise package Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer Leverkusen is working quietly, but they have regained the form that led them to a league-cup double the previous season.
Behind leaders Bayern Munich and surprise package Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer Leverkusen is working quietly, but they have regained the form that led them to a league-cup double the previous season. Despite being seven points behind Bayern, Xabi Alonso’s team is the only one that really makes the German powerhouses nervous when they go to mid-table Augsburg on Saturday. Last season, Leverkusen outperformed everyone else, winning their first Bundesliga title without dropping a single match—something that no other team, not even Bayern, had ever accomplished.
However, a string of six consecutive victories across all competitions, including overcoming Inter Milan and eliminating Bayern from the German Cup in Munich, has put Alonso’s team back on track.
Leverkusen hosts Freiburg in the 2024 season finale following their trip to 13th-place Augsburg on Saturday.
After beating Inter on Tuesday, Granit Xhaka of Leverkusen stated, “If we play like that, it’ll be difficult for the rest.” “Everyone needs to step on the gas until Christmas — we need the three points,” he added.
With Harry Kane, Manuel Neuer, Alphonso Davies, Kingsley Coman, Serge Gnabry, and Joao Palhinha all expected to miss the rest of 2024 due to Bayern’s injury woes, Leverkusen may close the deficit before the Christmas break.
On Saturday, Bayern will go to Mainz, where they have suffered three of their last four league losses.
Leipzig, who have won two of Bayern’s last three games in Munich, will host Bayern in the year’s last match.
Marco Rose’s team will be able to concentrate on the league and the German Cup after Leipzig’s unfortunate Champions League loss in the middle of the week.
The first match is Sunday’s home match against Frankfurt, who are in second position. Leipzig’s 3-0 victory against Frankfurt at home in the German Cup earlier in December will give them confidence.
Injury-hit On Sunday, fifth-place Wolfsburg will face seventh-place Freiburg, while sixth-place Dortmund will host lowly Hoffenheim for a chance to go closer to the top four.
One to watch: Tom Rothe (Union Berlin)
Union Berlin left defender Tom Rothe had huge shoes to fill when he moved to the German city from Borussia Dortmund in the summer.
Rothe stated he had a “gut feeling” that the transfer to Union “felt right” in an interview with the Bundesliga website on Friday.
The 20-year-old made an immediate impression. Rothe has established himself in Union’s starting lineup and scored important goals in victories over Holstein Kiel and Hoffenheim.
“I want to prove myself here, show what I can do, hit the ground running.”
Union, who are in the middle of the league this season after fighting relegation during the Champions League last season, will meet rock-bottom Bochum on Saturday.
Key stats
14-After 13 games this season, Union Berlin has let up 14 goals; only Bayern Munich has given up fewer, at 10.
20-Omar Marmoush has contributed 20 goals this season with 13 goals and seven assists in 13 games. The only player with more in Europe’s top five leagues is his countryman Mo Salah, who has 21 in 14 appearances.
0 – After 13 games, Bayern is the only Bundesliga team still undefeated, while Bochum, in bottom position, is also winless.
Fixtures (1430 GMT unless stated)
Friday
Wolfsburg v. Freiburg (1930)
On Saturday
Mainz v. Bayern Munich, Augsburg v. Bayer Leverkusen, Union Berlin v. Bochum, St. Pauli v. Werder Bremen, and Borussia Moenchengladbach v. Holstein Kiel (1730)
Sunday
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Borussia Dortmund v. Hoffenheim (1630), Heidenheim v. Stuttgart, and RB Leipzig v. Eintracht Frankfurt (1830)
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