The Rheinland prides itself on a fun-loving approach to life most of the time, but especially in the week of Karneval. It so happens that this flamboyant, multi-day festival of outlandish costumes, inebriation, and generally forgetting about mundane everyday humdrum, coincides with the highly serious business of a Bundesliga Gipfeltreffen (summit meeting). Leverkusen are the headline grabbers, and rightly so. How could it be otherwise when you’ve gone 30 games unbeaten in all competitions from the start of the season and done it with a brand of patient, passing football that delights everyone who loves the game? Bayern, although two points behind Leverkusen, actually can boast historically the sixth-best record any team in any guise has ever enjoyed at this stage of a Bundesliga season.
Bayer Leverkusen’s past is littered with nearly stories, particularly in 2000 when they threw the title away on the last day, and in 2002 when they found themselves in contention again in the denouement while landing in the Champions League and DFB-Pokal finals for good measure. However, there was no trophy parade, in either year. Not since 1993, when they took the Pokal, has a major piece of silverware come Leverkusen’s way. As a result, the nicknames, Vizekusen (Runners-up-kusen, if you like) and the even-crueller Neverkusen have stuck. But as former Bayer 04 keeper Rene Adler remarked recently, it’s doubtful players like Granit Xhaka, Alejandro Grimaldo, Jeremie Frimpong, or World Cup winner Exequiel Palacios can relate to the tag. They are living and prospering in a glorious here and now, far removed from the trite cliches of the past.
We can’t talk about Leverkusen’s poise without linking it to manager Xabi Alonso and the smooth and graceful manner of his own playing performances. A week later at RB Leipzig, it was the Leverkusen late show again, with Piero Hincapié netting the 91st-minute winner after they had turned around a 2-1 deficit. Bayer 04 give you the impression they are never beaten and simply don’t panic. Leverkusen, as one of only two Bundesliga sides left in the Pokal, are now overwhelming favorites to lift the Pott. The Europa League, in which they have a bye into the round of 16, beckons also. But what of the Meisterschale (champions bowl), the ultimate prize and one that has always eluded them previously?
Thomas Tuchel has at times been the lightning rod for criticism, which is somewhat unfair given the sheer number of injuries recently to an already thin squad. Tuchel made this very point at the start of the campaign, but in words and style, he is a coach perhaps better appreciated outside Germany than within. In an interview with ESPN’s Archie Rhind-Tutt, Tuchel said he felt more valued in England, and this remains a media topic here in the Bundesrepublik. Last week against Borussia Monchengladbach, when they picked themselves up after conceding first and won 3-1, and in the 1-0 reverse against Werder Bremen, they lacked tempo. Tuchel does suddenly now have choices, but should he return to the fold at the expense of 19-year-old Aleksandar Pavlovic, who has forged a respectable alliance with Leon Goretzka? The fact remains that this is a Leverkusen team without a noticeable weakness and their squad strength is more evenly spread than that of Bayern.
Possible Game-Changers
Can Wirtz, still only 20 and having missed a big chunk of his early career due to an ACL, who exquisitely set up two of the three goals in the Pokal triumph, make this his stage? Will Xhaka, who has landed in the right place at this later point in his career, shape the game and set the table for a possible five-point advantage at the top? Or will Bayern, who have a history of getting it right when it truly matters, catapult themselves above Bayer and into top spot?
Saturday’s clash between Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich is not just a mere top-of-the-table clash. It is a battle between two teams with exceptional records and contrasting histories. Both Leverkusen and Bayern have demonstrated their prowess throughout the season, leaving fans in awe of their skill and determination. While Leverkusen’s unbeaten streak and stylish play have caught the attention of football enthusiasts, Bayern Munich has silently climbed the ranks, outperforming their previous season’s record. As the two giants collide, all eyes will be on the pitch to witness this clash of titans.