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BERLIN: Indomitable this season, Bayern Munich have another chance to demonstrate their superiority when Bayer Leverkusen visit in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
Leverkusen ended Bayern’s record 11-year run as champion in 2024, but the Bavarian powerhouse wrested the title back last season and Leverkusen have undergone a summer transformation after losing key players.
While Bayern look even stronger in Vincent Kompany’s second season in charge — 14 wins across all games including the German Supercup so far — Leverkusen are already on to their second coach after making a botched start under Erik ten Hag.
Kasper Hjulmand has steadied the team, which have won their last four Bundesliga games but were humbled 7-2 at home by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
Another Bundesliga challenge is not expected from Leverkusen this season.
Key matchups
Bayern warmed up by beating Cologne 4-1 in the German Cup, where Leverkusen were taken to extra time by 10-man second-division side Paderborn before eventually prevailing 4-2.
There’s a clash between second and third on Saturday when Leipzig host Stuttgart. Germany forward Deniz Undav is back for Stuttgart.
Augsburg coach Sandro Wagner must fear for his job before Borussia Dortmund’s visit on Friday after his team’s German Cup exit to second-division Bochum just days after a 6-0 hiding at home to Leipzig. Wagner’s team have lost five of their eight league games.
Wolfsburg coach Paul Simonis is also in trouble before Hoffenheim’s visit on Sunday after his team’s cup exit to second-division Holstein Kiel. Wolfsburg have lost five of their last six games.
Also on Sunday, Cologne host Hamburger SV in a duel between promoted teams.
Players to watch
Harry Kane remains central to Bayern’s brilliant start and took his goal tally to 22 against Cologne on Wednesday. The England forward has failed to score in only two games this season.
Nadiem Amiri was desolate after Mainz’s cup loss to Stuttgart on Wednesday. Mainz will need the Germany playmaker at his best against Werder Bremen on Saturday to stop their run of four straight league defeats.
The 16-year-old Wael Mohya made his debut for Borussia Mönchengladbach in the cup on Tuesday to become the club’s youngest player. He left to ovations from the fans, who’ll hope to see him again on Saturday at St. Pauli.
Off the field
There are fears of trouble in Berlin on Saturday when Union Berlin and Hertha Berlin play home games around the same time. Usually the German soccer league makes sure the city rivals alternate home games, making security arrangements necessary for only one at a time. But a league official said a holiday in the west German state of North Rhine-Westphalia meant no games can be played there on Friday with knock-on effects for other teams.
Hertha host Dynamo Dresden for what would already be considered a high-risk game in the second division, then Union host Freiburg a couple of hours later in the Bundesliga. Fans from all four clubs will be in the German capital at the same time, with up to 35,000 expected from Dresden.