As of: February 8, 2024, 10:01 a.m
By: Philipp Kessler, Manuel Bonke
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Bayer Leverkusen shines this season with the virtues of FC Bayern.
The top Bundesliga game takes place on Saturday.
Munich – Often copied, but unrivaled for a long time.
FC Bayern became German champions eleven years in a row.
Now the changing of the guard is imminent.
Of all people, Bayer Leverkusen – ridiculed as vice-presidents for years – wants to knock the Munich model club off the Bundesliga throne.
With his own weapons.
The big question before the top game between league leaders and pursuers on Saturday (February 10th): Is Bayer the better Bayern?
tz
does the check
.
Leverkusen welcomes FC Bayern to the top Bundesliga game
Mia san mia:
FC Bayern’s famous motto.
Among other things, it stands for mega self-confidence, being courageous, always pushing forward and the conviction that you can overcome all resistance.
Virtues that Leverkusen also took to heart this season.
Thanks to Xabi Alonso (42).
The Spaniard, who played for FC Bayern between 2014 and 2017, vaccinated the Werkself with the Mia san mia gene.
Every single professional exudes a high level of self-confidence.
Even under maximum pressure, they remain calm and do not play any difficult passes backwards.
And they believe in success until the end, as the quarter-final victory in the cup in the very last second against Stuttgart (3:2) on Tuesday proved.
“Such an emotional mentality victory certainly gives us additional impetus.
That’s why we’re all looking forward to a great game,” emphasizes Robert Andrich (29).
Tough fight for the ball and victory: Bayern's Harry Kane (left) against Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah.
© IMAGO/Ulrich Wagner
Bayern goes into the giant duel with respect
Leverkusen's overperformance - no defeat in 30 competitive games - is also registered in Munich.
“They never give up, you can see that in the many last-minute goals they score, so they never lose faith in themselves,” explains Bayern captain Manuel Neuer (37).
At the record champions, however, no star is in top form.
In addition, coach Thomas Tuchel's (50) team has been plagued by injuries for months.
It's all the more impressive that Bayern have the highest points total since the 2015/16 season up to this point in the season and are only two points behind Leverkusen.
Alonso spoke of the “best German team where winning is in their DNA”.
“We will annoy them with our victories until they become nervous,” announced President Herbert Hainer (69) in typical Mia-san-mia style.
It is questionable whether Leverkusen will continue to stay cool.
Or how Dortmund still managed to win the title last season.
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Playing style:
For years, Bayern stood for convincing and dominant football.
There is still no clear game idea under Tuchel.
“Tuchel also has his signature, but Alonso’s is more visible to me,” writes record national player Lothar Matthäus (62) in his current Sky column.
“Every time I saw Bayer 04 this season, Alonso’s style of play and ideas were clearly visible.”
Leverkusen play attractive football.
The self-confident professionals around Florian Wirtz (20) always dare to play courageous passes forward.
The automatisms work, they are strong in the transition and in counter-pressing.
However: Bayer's offensive style of play should suit FC Bayern.
This season, the Munich team mostly struggled against deep opponents and often depended on the individual class of their stars.
However, Tuchel-Bayern were convincing against teams that wanted to play.
For example in the 4-0 win in Dortmund or the 3-0 win against Stuttgart.
FC Bayern is a guest at Bayer Leverkusen.
© IMAGO/Frank Hoermann/SVEN SIMON
Leverkusen has won the tight games so far
Dusel:
A widespread myth in German football is that Bayern are often lucky enough to somehow still win in tight games.
This season Fortuna is on Leverkusen's side.
The 3-2 win against Stuttgart was the third last-minute win in the fifth game of the year.
In addition, Bayer's Andrich could definitely have seen yellow-red.
Bayern's hope: that Leverkusen's Dusel contingent will soon be used up again.
Best on Saturday.
(Philipp Kessler, Manuel Bonke)