SPIEL VERSCHOBEN: Bayern München vs. Bayer Leverkusen – „Neue“ Anstoßzeit, Prognose, Team-News, Aufstellungen
Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen’s paths will cross on the European stage for the first time when they go head-to-head in the first leg of their all-German last 16 tie in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The two sides have met on three occasions already this season, with Die Werkself remaining unbeaten, knocking Bayern out of the DFB-Pokal already here at the Allianz Arena.
Match preview
Vincent Kompany’s Bayern are on course to take the Bundesliga title this season, sitting eight points clear of second-placed Bayer, following an impressive 3-1 win at Stuttgart on Friday.
That extended Bayern’s unbeaten streak to nine matches across all competitions, but that run does include the nervy draw they salvaged at home to Celtic in the second leg of the playoff round.
Alphonso Davies’s scruffy last-gasp leveller sent Bayern through on aggregate thanks to a first-leg win in Glasgow, but they will know they must improve on that performance if they are going to uphold their brilliant last-16 record in this competition.
Bayern have only lost one of their last 11 last-16 home legs, scoring 41 goals in the process, including seven against Red Bull Salzburg and Shakhtar Donetsk, and five against Arsenal and Besiktas.
Leverkusen should provide a much sterner test though, and after losing to Xabi Alonso’s men in the Pokal earlier this season, the Champions League represents Kompany’s last chance for cup success.
Bayern have very fond memories of their last clash with fellow German opposition in Europe, because that was the 2013 final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley when Arjen Robben netted the late winner.
Leverkusen also have a strong historical record against clubs from their own country in Europe, knocking Werder Bremen and Hamburg out of the UEFA Cup in 1988 and 2008.
Manager Alonso should feel confident at Leverkusen making it three from three, because he is still yet to lose against Bayern as the club’s manager, with the 0-0 draw at the BayArena last month, where Bayer restricted the Bavarians to just two shots, extending that run to six games.
Form on the road in Europe has deserted Leverkusen slightly though, because despite being unbeaten in 29 away games in the Bundesliga, they have lost their last two in this competition, at Liverpool and in that infamous clash with Atletico Madrid.
Alonso’s men are unbeaten in eight, but missed the chance to close the gap on Bayern domestically with that goalless draw last month, so they will most probably now focus all of their attention on the Champions League and the Pokal.
Knowing they will not face Real Madrid, Liverpool or the in-form Paris Saint-Germain until the final should offer further hope, but there are still plenty of tough teams on Leverkusen’s side of the draw, firstly Bayern, and also Inter Milan and Barcelona.
Bayern Munich Champions League form:
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Bayern Munich form (all competitions):
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Bayer Leverkusen Champions League form:
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Bayer Leverkusen form (all competitions):
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Team News
Bayern are hopeful Joshua Kimmich will both be fit for this clash, after returning to light training over the weekend, and commit to a new long-term contract, which has been rumoured in Germany over the past few days.
Eric Dier and Aleksandar Pavlovic both missed team training with minor illness on Sunday, while Jamal Musiala, Joao Palhinha, and the saviour against Celtic, Davies, were absent with minor knocks, but all five players should be fine to play their part.
Harry Kane is fit and firing, and no player has contributed to more Champions League goals than him since the start of last season – 20 (15 goals, five assists).
Florian Wirtz is giving the England captain a run for his money this season though in his first UCL campaign, with six goals and an assist in the league phase, leaving him just two shy of Michael Ballack’s club record of nine goal involvements in one European season – set when they reached the final in 2001-02.
Piero Hincapie will be available again after he was suspended at the weekend, but fellow defender Jeanuel Belocian remains a long-term absentee for the visitors.
Martin Terrier is the only other injury concern at present, but with a large bulk of his squad available to him, Alonso still went with a very strong XI at the weekend, taking no chances despite this match being on the horizon.
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Laimer, Kim, Upamecano, Davies; Palhinha, Goretzka; Olise, Musiala, Coman; Kane
Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:
Hradecky; Mukiele, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Aleix Garcia, Xhaka, Grimaldo; Tella, Schick, Wirtz
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