Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern München preview: Title showdown in Leverkusen | OneFootball

Bayer Leverkusen

Xabi Alonso's men saw their 18-game scoring streak come to an abrupt halt against Wolfsburg, despite a golden opportunity missed by Nordi Mukiele in the 22nd minute. The defender failed to convert a close-range chance with the goal at his mercy following a corner.

Although Leverkusen remains in contention across multiple competitions, including a DFB-Pokal semi-final and a Champions League last-16 spot, their projected 78-point season total is significantly lower than last year’s tally of 90.

They have found the net 17 times in their last six Bundesliga games, but defensive solidity remains a concern, having managed just three clean sheets in their last 12 league outings.

This season, Leverkusen have already faced Bayern twice, playing out a 1-1 draw in the league in September and securing a 1-0 victory in the DFB-Pokal in December, a match in which they benefited from Manuel Neuer’s early red card.

Their stalemate against Wolfsburg extended their unbeaten run to five matches, with three wins in that stretch. At home, they have been formidable, going undefeated in 16 games and winning their last 10 at the BayArena, scoring three goals in three of their past four home matches.

Team News

Leverkusen head into the match with a largely fit squad but will have to cope without center-back Jeanuel Belocian, who is out for the season.

In defence, Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah, and Piero Hincapie are expected to feature in front of goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky.

Victor Boniface and Florian Wirtz are likely to occupy two of the attacking positions, while Nathan Tella could be drafted in to compensate for the long-term absence of Martin Terrier.

Bayern München

Bayern enter this fixture riding high on a dominant performance against Werder Bremen, where they restricted their opponents to a mere 0.13 expected goals (xG) while generating over four xG themselves.

Under Vincent Kompany, the Bavarians have been an attacking juggernaut, netting three or more goals in 19 matches this season. With 65 goals already in the Bundesliga, they are on pace to reach 105 league goals, an achievement they have only surpassed twice since 1905-06.

Their recent 2-1 victory over Celtic in the Champions League last-16 first leg, however, was not without its challenges, as the Scottish side posed a significant threat on the counterattack.

Defensively, Bayern have shown vulnerability, conceding 11 goals in their last seven matches, more than they allowed in the preceding 15 fixtures combined.

Nevertheless, they are in excellent form, having won their last five matches across all competitions and securing nine victories in their previous 10 games. Their away performances, however, have been inconsistent, with four wins, one draw, and two losses in their last seven road fixtures.

Team News

Bayern will be without left-back Alphonso Davies and backup goalkeeper Daniel Peretz, though the latter’s absence is unlikely to impact the squad given Neuer's starting role.

Raphael Guerreiro is the favorite to deputise on the left side of the defense, forming a backline alongside Josip Stanisic, Dayot Upamecano, and Kim Min Jae.

Midfield enforcer Joao Palhinha remains a doubt due to illness, and if he is unable to feature, Joshua Kimmich could pair up with Leon Goretzka in the centre of the pitch.