LEVERKUSEN, Germany, Feb 14, (V7N) – Defending champions Bayer Leverkusen will host league leaders Bayern Munich on Saturday, needing nothing short of a “perfect day” to defeat the Bavarians and keep their Bundesliga title hopes alive.

Bayern arrive at the BayArena with an eight-point lead at the top of the table, having won seven league games in a row under Vincent Kompany. Both sides have lost just once this season, but Leverkusen’s seven draws, compared to Bayern’s three, have left them trailing.

A win or even a draw for Bayern could deal a decisive blow to Leverkusen’s ambitions of defending their title.

Xabi Alonso’s Edge Over Bayern

Despite the odds, Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso has a strong record against Bayern, winning three and drawing two of their last five meetings. In December, Leverkusen knocked Bayern out of the German Cup in Munich, with home captain Manuel Neuer receiving a red card for the first time in his career.

Leverkusen’s Granit Xhaka, in an interview with the Bundesliga website, remained optimistic.

“We can make it difficult for anyone, including Bayern Munich. We need a perfect day to beat this team, but I’m convinced we can do this,” Xhaka said. “We won’t play for a draw. Everything is still in our hands.”

Unlike Bayern, who secured a hard-fought 2-1 win over Celtic in the Champions League play-offs on Wednesday, Leverkusen had a midweek break after finishing in the competition’s top eight.

Striker Duel: Kane vs. Schick

Both teams boast in-form strikers.

  • Harry Kane (Bayern) has nine goals in his past eight games, bouncing back from a hamstring injury in December.
  • Patrik Schick (Leverkusen) has netted 14 goals in his past 11 league matches.

Elsewhere in the Bundesliga

  • Borussia Dortmund, fresh off a 3-0 Champions League win over Sporting Lisbon under new coach Niko Kovac, visit Bochum.
  • Third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt will aim to end a three-game drawing streak against Holstein Kiel.

One to Watch: Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)

Florian Wirtz has been the key playmaker for Leverkusen, assisting nine of Schick’s 20 league goals this season.

Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro praised the 21-year-old, telling AFP: “He makes it look easy – and that’s what makes him special.”

Key Stats

  • 24 – St Pauli (14th) have conceded just 24 goals in 21 games, second only to Bayern’s 19.
  • October 2021 – The last time Bayern won in Leverkusen.
  • 21 in 19 – Harry Kane has 21 goals in 19 league matches, including nine penalties.

Weekend Fixtures (1430 GMT unless stated)

Friday:

  • Augsburg v RB Leipzig (1930)

Saturday:

  • Union Berlin v Borussia Moenchengladbach
  • St Pauli v Freiburg
  • Bochum v Borussia Dortmund
  • Stuttgart v Wolfsburg
  • Bayer Leverkusen v Bayern Munich (1730)

Sunday:

  • Werder Bremen v Hoffenheim
  • Eintracht Frankfurt v Holstein Kiel (1630)
  • Heidenheim v Mainz (1830)

END/SD/RH