What a matchup today! Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich are facing each other in a derby which could potentially decide the Bundesliga title. This is the first time in Bundesliga history that the top two each have had at least 50 points on the board after 20 matches, and league leaders Bayer have only two points more. They are the only team in Europe without a single defeat in all competition after 30 games played. Xabi Alonso is doing a fantastic job and only his former coach Pep Guardiola had more points with Bayern in the years 2013/14 and 2015/16. If he manages to lead his team to a victory today, he will make a decisive step towards the title, as five points ahead of the Bavarians will be a huge advantage, considering the form in which Bayer is now, along with the fact that all players except Victor Boniface are healthy and back from the AFCON.102 – Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern have collected a total of 102 points in this season’s Bundesliga, a new record in the history of the competition for the top duo after 20 matchdays. Festive. #B04FCB pic.twitter.com/uqepRQe3dX— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) February 5, 2024 In fact, on the long run, Xabi Alonso just might also look at this match as his final exam for the Bayer Munich post. He is sought after, currently only by Liverpool, but if the wins today and ultimately win the league, it seems that Thomas Tuchel’s days in Munich will be numbered. The former Chelsea coach got a number of players in June 2023 and still the Bavarians are not dominant and mostly rely on Harry Kane’s fantastic form. If they fail to win another consecutive title, things might change in Munich and just recently, ex-boss and supervisory board member Karl-Heinz Rummenigge recently revealed in “AZ” that he had already had the idea of signing Alonso in 2017. On top of that, it’s not a secret anymore that the Spaniard has a clause in his Leverkusen contract (which is valid until 2026) that he can leave if some of his former teams come calling. Liverpool already called, but Alonso wants to see out the title chase first and by the time he does that, Bayern might call too. The Spanish coach quickly rebuffed such a question at the press conference (“Not my topic”), and talked about the strength of Bayern instead.Clash of young German midfield talents to decide the title race?The biggest question in Leverkusen is the dilemma in the attack: Patrik Schick or Amine Adli? If Schick starts, it will the same formation as in the 3-2 cup win against VfB Stuttgart.“We were very happy when Amine and Eddy Tapsoba returned from the Africa Cup of Nations. Amine is a top player with a good mentality who is always ready – whether he starts or comes off the bench. He always has a good influence on our game. We need the best Amine after the Africa Cup. He helped the whole team a lot against Stuttgart” said Alonso, who also inserted Burkina Faso’s Tapsoba back into the starting lineup in the Cup. Bayern are fighting for their lives here and they have problems with injuries. Alphonso Davies has knee ligament and joins Kingsley Coman, Konrad Laimer and Serge Gnabry, who are already in the treatment room. Joshua Kimmich and Dayot Upamecano on the other hand have returned from injuries, and Minjae Kim is also available after Asian Cup semi-final elimination. There is some concern over Manuel Neuer, however, after he sat out most of the week due to a knee problem, but if there is any chance, Bayern captain will play.BUNDESLIGA – MATCHDAY 21FridayBorussia Dortmund – Freiburg 3-0 (2-0)/Malen 16, 45+7, Fullgrug 87/Saturday17:30: (1.82) Werder (3.60) Heidenheim (4.40)17:30: (1.60) M’ gladbach (3.90) Darmstadt (5.80)17:30: (4.30) Augsburg (4.00) RB Leipzig (1.80)17:30: (1.80) Eintr.Frankfurt (3.60) Bochum (4.60)17:30: (2.30) Union Berlin (3.40) Wolfsburg (3.35)20:30: (2.80) Leverkusen (3.60) Bayern (2.60)Sunday17:30: (1.45) Stuttgart (4.40) Mainz (7.25)19:30: (1.90) Hoffenheim (3.70) Koln (4.40)***odds are subject to change***
