Until the World Cup break, Leverkusen were probably the biggest disappointment in the Bundesliga. Before the start of the season, they were considered one of the favorites to qualify for the Champions League, but the reality quickly became different. So typical of the team that it is mockingly and cynically called Neverkusen or Loserkusen. Certainly not without grounds, alluding to an almost regular failure when there is already-seen success…Only two trophies were won by ‘Werkself’ in almost 120 years of existence. Founded in 1904 by Bayer factory workers, Leverkusen grew from an early age under the umbrella of a company that helped finance the club and maintained a controlling position for decades. Exactly 170 employees wrote a letter to the company’s president, Friedrich Bayer, and not only received his support, but also an incentive to expand the activity to several sports outside of football.##EDITORS_CHOICE##Until the eighties, Bayer never went beyond the second and third leagues of Germany, and then made a huge qualitative leap with the support of the multinational pharmaceutical industry and went from almost unknown to a permanent member of the top of the table. They won the UEFA Cup in 1988 by beating Espanyol on penalties, as well as the German Cup in 1993. In the previous three barren decades, Bayer were runner-up in the Bundesliga five times and lost titles that were almost won in the finals, on three occasions they lost in the domestic cup finals, and in 2002, they were defeated by Real Madrid in the fight for the Champions League trophy.This season, Leverkusen were a participant in the group stage of the best European team competition and did not manage to reach the knockout stage against of Porto, Club Brugge and Atletico Madrid, but in the spring they will fight in the Europa League. In parallel with the continental battles, Werkself did not do good on the domestic stage either. They are currently in 12th place and are just four points ahead of 15th place which is in the relegation zone. Bayer’s hope for the second half of the season lies primarily in the hands of youngster Florian Wirtz, who has been injured for a long time.After the 12th round of the Bundesliga, Leverkusen were still in 16th place with nine points and thus faced relegation for the first time in a long time. They managed to collect three wins in a row until the World Cup break in mid-November, and are now in a much better position. It should have taken some time for the coaching effect of the new skipper Xabi Alonso to be established. In the end, at least in the league under the leadership of the Basque strategist, there were only two defeats against Eintracht and RB Leipzig.🇩🇪 Florian Wirtz na sua carreira profissional:🏟 82 jogos (63 como titular)⚽️ 19 gols🅰️ 23 assistências🔑 137 passes decisivos🧠 27 grandes chances criadas💡 175 dribles completos (66%)🔄 102 roubadas de bolaFaltam só 3 dias para o vermos de volta à Bundesliga!! 🤩⏳️ pic.twitter.com/pjG6cxvxkC— 𝐁𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 🇧🇷🇩🇪 (@BundesInsider) January 19, 2023 Werkself now urgently want to build on the positive results and, in addition to Alonso, a former trophy player with a championship pedigree created at Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern, they are counting on another name who could be even more important for the club – Florian Wirtz. This 19-year-old is a future big star of European football. Unfortunately, he tore his ligaments in March 2022 against Cologne, the team where he spent his youth career. As a result, he missed the rest of the football year, including the World Cup in Qatar. It was an extremely long break for such a young player who is still in the development phase. However, during the winter training, Wirtz showed himself to be in good shape and was immediately the best player in his team.The biggest weakness in the first 15 rounds of the Bundesliga season was not the offense anyway, which scored as often – 25 goals – as Freiburg or Dortmund. For a long time, Bayer were weak when it came to stability. A total of 26 goals conceded in 15 games was too many and put Werkself on par with Augsburg or Stuttgart.Six-goal extravaganza hampers Freiburg’s title chaseThe fact that Bayer Leverkusen are not yet in danger of a relegation battle is also thanks to the improvements made under Xabi Alonso. In four competitive games in November, the team capitulated only once, and kept a clean sheet three times. In preparation for the second half of the season, Leverkusen continued the positive trend, apart only from the defeat against Glasgow Rangers 3-0.Given the quality of the team, including the return of Wirtz and improvements in the defensive end, it is unlikely that Bayer will continue to fight for points against relegation. In fact, the question is whether they can snatch that European ticket-to-ride. There are still 19 games left to collect points and that is by no means unrealistic for a team like Leverkusen. Sixth place, which gives the right to participate in the Conference League, is eight points away. And even 4th place and the Champions League are 12 steps out of reach. It is clear that Bayern are in the league of their own, but with Eintracht, Union Berlin and Freiburg, three clubs are currently among the top four, and such a finish can at least be questioned.💬 #Alonso: “Flo #Wirtz has improved our game between the lines, we have more opportunities. But we still have to play good football as a team to be successful. We need all the players, not just Florian.”🔜 #BMGB04 | #Bayer04 | #Werkself pic.twitter.com/69cJlidxLa— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) January 20, 2023 The downside for Leverkusen is that RB Leipzig, Wolfsburg, Dortmund and Mönchengladbach are stationed from 5th to 8th place and are also looking to shine in the spring part of the campaign. The opportunity for Pharmacists to show Gladbach that they are serious is already available today as part of the 16th round of the Bundesliga. Neither did Borussia Mönchengladbach respond when the championship was interrupted in mid-November, because both teams were in a good rhythm, recording excellent results. These are teams of similar quality, ahead of the start of the season, candidates for the top 4. They both failed. Now they are hoping for a more successful spring and at least a jump to a place that leads to the Europa League or the Conference League.And the first game in the continuation of the season could be extremely important. Only, the key is not to expect too much from Xabi Alonso and his men. Only then do Bayer look like – almost their namesake – Bayern…BUNDESLIGAFridayRB Leipzig – Bayern 1-1 (0-1)/Halstenberg 52 – Choupo-Moting 37/SaturdayBochum – Herha 3-1 (2-0)/Hofmann 22, 56, Schlotterbeck 44 – Serdar 87/Eintracht Frankfurt – Schalke 3-0 (1-0)/Lindstrom 22, Borre 84, Buta 90+1/Stuttgart – Mainz 1-1 (1-1)/Guirassy 36 – Ingvartsen 40 pen/Union Berlin – Hoffenheim 3-1 (0-1)/Doekhi 73, 89, Leweling 90+6 – Bebou 43/Wolfsburg – Freiburg 6-0 (3-0)/Wimmer 2, Wind 28, 37, Gerhardt 56, Baku 80, Waldschmidt 90+4 pen/Koln – Werder Bremen 7-1 (5-1)/Maina 9, Tigges 16, 21, Skhiri 30, 54, Huseinbasic 36, Friedl 77 – Fullkrug 38/Sunday17:30 Borussia Dortmund – Augsburg19:30 Borussia M’gladbach – Bayer 04 Leverkusen***odds are subject to change
