Leverkusen Bid to Reinforce Defence, Bayern Aim for Three-peat
Bundesliga Rivals in Contrasting Positions
Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich present contrasting pictures ahead of their Bundesliga clash on Sunday, with Leverkusen aiming to solidify their defence and Bayern seeking their third consecutive league victory.
Leverkusen's Defensive Woes
Leverkusen, currently 11th in the standings, have conceded 23 goals in 13 matches, the third-worst defensive record in the league. Manager Xabi Alonso acknowledges the need for improvement, saying, "We need to be more compact and organized in our defence. We are making too many mistakes and giving away cheap goals."
Bayern's Winning Run
In contrast, Bayern have won their last two league matches, including a 6-1 thrashing of Werder Bremen. The Bavarian giants are looking to continue their winning streak and extend their lead at the top of the table. Manager Julian Nagelsmann is confident in his team's ability, saying, "We have a good rhythm and a lot of quality in our squad. We want to keep winning and put pressure on our rivals."
Key Match-ups
The match-up between Leverkusen's defence and Bayern's formidable attack will be crucial. Leverkusen's centre-backs, Edmond Tapsoba and Piero Hincapie, will have their hands full trying to contain Bayern's prolific forwards, Robert Lewandowski, Sadio Mané, and Serge Gnabry.
On the other end, Bayern's defence, led by Manuel Neuer, Lucas Hernandez, and Dayot Upamecano, will be tested by Leverkusen's attacking trio of Moussa Diaby, Patrik Schick, and Florian Wirtz.
Prediction
Bayern are clear favorites going into this match. However, Leverkusen have shown signs of improvement under Alonso and will be determined to make things difficult for the league leaders. A close and competitive match is expected, with Bayern likely to emerge victorious.
Additional Insights
- Bayern have won 10 of their last 12 Bundesliga matches against Leverkusen.
- Robert Lewandowski is the Bundesliga's all-time leading scorer with 311 goals.
- Patrik Schick is Leverkusen's top scorer this season with 8 goals in 13 matches.
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