BERLIN (AP) — Bayern Munich, who have been indomitable this season, will have another chance to prove their dominance when Bayer Leverkusen visit the Bundesliga on Saturday.
Leverkusen ended Bayern’s 11-year reign as champions in 2024, but Bayern’s powerhouse regained the title Leverkusen, which lost key players last season, underwent a transformation in the summer.
Bayern look even stronger in Vincent Kompany’s second season as manager (15 wins in all games so far, including the German Super Cup), but Leverkusen are already on their second manager after a poor start under Erik ten Hag.
Manager Kasper Hürmand stabilized the team, winning their last four Bundesliga games, but they lost 7-2 at home to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
Leverkusen is not expected to challenge for a new Bundesliga this season.
major matches
Bayern warmed up 4-1 win over Cologne In the German Cup, Leverkusen went into extra time against Paderborn, a 10-man team in the second division, but ultimately won 4-2.
On Saturday, Leipzig will host Stuttgart in a battle between second and third place. German national team forward Deniz Undauf has returned to Stuttgart.
Augsburg coach Sandro Wagner must be worried about his job ahead of Friday’s visit to Borussia Dortmund, following the club’s defeat to second-tier Bochum just days after a 6-0 defeat to Leipzig in the German Cup. Coach Wagner’s team has lost five of eight league games.
Wolfsburg coach Paul Simonis is also in a predicament ahead of Sunday’s visit to Hoffenheim after losing to second-tier Holstein Kiel in the cup. Wolfsburg have lost five of their last six games.
Also on Sunday, Cologne will host Hamburger SV in a clash between the promoted teams.
Featured players
Harry Kane continues to be at the heart of Bayern’s impressive start, taking his goal tally to 22 against Cologne on Wednesday. The England forward has failed to score in just two games this season.
Nadiem Amiri was depressed after Mainz lost to Stuttgart in the cup on Wednesday. Mainz will need their best German playmaker against Werder Bremen on Saturday to end a run of four consecutive league defeats.
Sixteen-year-old Wael Mohiya made his debut in a cup match for Borussia Mönchengladbach on Tuesday, becoming the club’s youngest player. He left to applause from the fans, who will be hoping to see him again at St. Pauli on Saturday.
off the field
With Union Berlin and Hertha Berlin playing home games at the same time on Saturday, there are fears of trouble in Berlin. Normally, Germany’s soccer leagues alternate home games between city rivals, and only require security for one game at a time. However, league officials said that because the West German state of North Rhine-Westphalia was on holiday, no games could be played in the state on Friday, which would affect other teams.
Hertha have already hosted Dynamo Dresden in a match considered high-risk in the second tier, while Union host Freiburg in the Bundesliga a few hours later. Fans from all four clubs will be in the German capital at the same time, with up to 35,000 expected in Dresden.
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