Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen: Champions League Preview
Bayern Munich secured a decisive 3-0 victory over Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie. With a commanding lead, they head to the BayArena on Tuesday with confidence high.
While Bayern impressed on home soil, Leverkusen’s downfall was largely self-inflicted. Nordi Mukiele’s avoidable red card and goalkeeper Matej Kovar’s error, which gifted Jamal Musiala Bayern’s second goal, compounded their struggles. Harry Kane’s penalty sealed a dominant win for Vincent Kompany’s side, putting them in a strong position to advance to the quarter-finals.
Leverkusen had previously beaten Bayern 3-0 at home en route to last season’s Bundesliga title, but they face an uphill battle to replicate that success without talisman Florian Wirtz. Their woes deepened over the weekend with a 2-0 home defeat to Werder Bremen. Meanwhile, Bayern also stumbled, losing 3-2 to relegation-threatened Bochum, though their eight-point lead at the Bundesliga summit remains intact.
Here’s a breakdown of what to expect in this crucial Champions League clash:
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Bayern Munich: Head-to-Head Record
Last Five Meetings:
- Bayern Munich 3-0 Bayer Leverkusen (05/03/25)
- Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 Bayern Munich (Bundesliga, 04/02/24)
- Bayern Munich 4-0 Bayer Leverkusen (27/01/24)
- Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 Bayern Munich (30/09/23)
- Bayern Munich 4-2 Bayer Leverkusen (18/03/23)
Current Form (All Competitions)
| Bayer Leverkusen | Bayern Munich |
|---|---|
| 0-2 loss vs. Werder Bremen | 2-3 loss vs. Bochum |
| 0-3 loss vs. Bayern Munich | 3-0 win vs. Bayer Leverkusen |
| 4-1 win vs. Eintracht Frankfurt | 3-1 win vs. Stuttgart |
| 2-0 win vs. Holstein Kiel | 4-0 win vs. Eintracht Frankfurt |
| 0-0 draw vs. Wolfsburg | 1-1 draw vs. Celtic |
Team News
Bayer Leverkusen:
Florian Wirtz’s absence is a huge blow for Leverkusen. The star midfielder picked up an ankle injury against Werder Bremen and will miss the second leg, as well as the next few weeks of action. Jeanuel Belocian and Martin Terrier remain long-term absentees, while Granit Xhaka and Edmond Tapsoba are doubts due to minor knocks. Nordi Mukiele is suspended after his red card in the first leg.
Predicted Lineup (3-4-2-1):
Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Xhaka, Palacios, Grimaldo; Tella, Adli; Boniface.
Bayern Munich:
Manuel Neuer’s calf injury rules him out of the second leg, and he may not return until after the March international break. Aleksandar Pavlovic is also a doubt due to illness. Key players like Joshua Kimmich, Harry Kane, Michael Olise, Konrad Laimer, and Alphonso Davies are set to return to the starting XI after being rested or benched against Bochum.
Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1):
Urbig; Laimer, Upamecano, Kim, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Olise, Musiala, Coman; Kane.
Key Talking Points
Leverkusen’s Uphill Battle:
Without Wirtz, Leverkusen’s creativity and attacking threat are significantly diminished. Their inability to bounce back against Werder Bremen highlights their struggles in his absence.Bayern’s Tactical Approach:
With a comfortable lead, Bayern can afford to sit back and exploit Leverkusen on the counter. Kompany’s side will likely focus on maintaining their advantage rather than overcommitting.- Momentum Shift:
Both teams enter the match on the back of disappointing Bundesliga results, but Bayern’s first-leg performance gives them the psychological edge.
Prediction:
Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Bayern Munich
Leverkusen will push hard to salvage pride, but Bayern’s defensive solidity and attacking quality should see them through to the next round without much drama.
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