While the headline story of the Bundesliga season has been Dortmund’s outstanding start, Leverkusen have quietly advanced to second place, and are now seen as the Ruhr side’s main competition for the title. Though seven points behind BvB, die Werkself beat the leaders in their season opener, a reality that will provide encouragement.
Ahead of Saturday’s clash with defending champions Bayern, Leverkusen coach Jupp Heynckes praised his team’s performance during a steep ascent up the league table.
“My team has played successfully this season up to now. In the last two games they have played at the same level as last year,” he said, alluding to his team’s fourth-placed finish in May.
“We have developed as a team, have a super morale ‘til the end and have found a good balance between offence and defence,” Heynckes explained. “We have more self-esteem.”
Last year, Leverkusen impressed in both of their matches against Bayern, which ended in 1-1 draws. Heynckes made sure to stress, however, that the past has no impact over the result of Saturday’s match.
“Everything that happened before has nothing to do with today’s teams. We are a team. Today you can only be successful if the team gets along on and off the field. We all have to be on the same page. That’s the case in this team.”
Bayern Still With Much To Prove
It took more than two months, but Bayern Munich have finally found their form. After a long spell during which they struggled to find the net, the defending Bundesliga champions are now scoring for fun; their 3-0 victory over Nuernberg in last Sunday’s Bavarian derby was a real signal of their intent.
Despite their early season woes, Bayern are only five points behind Leverkusen, who sit second. However, their resurgence of form might have come too late for the Bavarians to defend their title; the gap to leaders Dortmund has already extended to 12 points.
According to club legend Franz Beckenbauer, the current gap is simply impossible to make up. “The way it looks, Dortmund cannot be bothered as front runners,” he said according to TZ. “We are simply unable to catch up.”
On the other hand, fit-again winger Franck Ribery believes that Bayern still have plenty to prove to the football world over the course of the rest of the season.
“We have big plans yet in Munich,” he said.
However, Ribery did concede that the gap to Dortmund will be difficult to make up.
“Until the winter break, we will have to win every match. Twelve points look like a lot, but when you begin a streak, it does not take long to catch up.”
TEAM NEWS
Bayer Leverkusen
The injury crisis at Leverkusen has settled down over the last week as Renato Augusto, Gonzalo Castro, and Sami Hyypia have returned to fitness. Of those three, only Castro is not expected to start, with Daniel Schwaab the preferred choice at right back. Michael Ballack and Stefan Kiessling remain injured, however, and will join suspended defender Stefan Reinartz in the stands.
Probable Starting XI: Adler – Schwaab, Friedrich, Hyypia, Kadlec – Vidal, Rolfes – Sam, Renato Augusto, Barnetta – Helmes
Bayern Munich
As it has at Leverkusen, the injury situation at Bayern has also alleviated itself recently. Holger Badstuber, Ivica Olic, Miroslav Klose, Arjen Robben and Rouven Sattelmaier are all unavailable, and Edson Braafheid has also been dropped. However, Franck Ribery and Breno are available, and could feature as substitutes.
Probable Starting XI: Butt – Lahm, Van Buyten, Demichelis, Pranjic – Tymoschuk, Ottl – Altintop, Schweinsteiger, Kroos – Gomez
Prediction
This match should prove to be entertaining from a tactical perspective. Both coaches will place heavy emphasis on the midfield battle, which could result in there being few scoring opportunities. Still, given the form of Mario Gomez and Sidney Sam, at least a goal apiece can be expected. The match is too critical for either team to lose, so a draw seems the most likely result.
Leverkusen 1-1 Bayern Munich 
