Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Last season, Bayer Leverkusen dethroned Bayern Munich as Bundesliga champions but that looks set to revert back to normal this season as they meet in the UEFA Champions League.
Kick-off date/time: Wednesday 5th March, 2025: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – Discovery+ / US – Paramount+
Bayern Munich Preview: Bayern’s rebuild
Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich come into this one on the back of a very impressive 3-1 defeat of Stuttgart away from home at the weekend. They sit eight points clear at the top-of-the-table in the Bundesliga with ten games to go.
They have been strong throughout the campaign but much more unconvincing in the UEFA Champions League, requiring a late winner to defeat Scottish champions Celtic by three goals to two on aggregate in the knockout playoffs a couple of weeks ago.
Bayer Leverkusen Preview: Xabi chases another trophy
Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen won both the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal without losing a game last season and they are once again into the semi-finals of the cup but they have suffered a defeat in the Bundesliga with too many draws leaving them so far behind Bayern.
They have, though, remained difficult to beat and finished in the top eight of the league phase of the UEFA Champions League. Most recently they defeated Eintracht Frankfurt in impressive fashion, winning by four goals to one away from home the other day.
Bayern Munich Team News: Kane dilemma
After recently being out injured, Harry Kane has returned to the Bayern eleven but there are suggestions, albeit probably absurd, that Bayern have played better and would be better without Kane. The England captain, though, is still expected too start.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, Kim, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Olise, Musiala, Sane; Kane
Unavailable: Peretz (Injured)
Questionable: Upamecano (Injured), Kimmich (Injured)
Bayer Leverkusen Team News: Pragmatic Leverkusen
After losing the final of the UEFA Europa League last season, Xabi Alonso was criticised for rotating too much and being too wedded to the back three shape. This time around they have been a lot more tactically flexible but have become almost too dedicated to desiring control and being more defensive.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Kovar; Mukiele, Tah, Tapsoba, Hincapie; Palacios, Xhaka; Frimpong, Wirtz, Grimaldo; Tella
Unavailable:
Questionable: Tapsoba (Injured)
Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen Prediction
Vincent Kompany’s Burnley were rampant in the Championship against sides that had nowhere near their quality but were then extremely poor in the Premier League when playing the same way against teams that could simply out play them. A similar pattern has emerged with Kompany in Bavaria, as shown by their UEFA Champions League results being underwhelming in comparison to league results. Leverkusen are one of the top quality sides that they have struggled against, too, with two draws and a Leverkusen win in the cup in the three meetings between the two sides so far this season. Given that, there could well be some good value to side with the away team at the Allianz Arena.
Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen Tip: Double chance – Bayer Leverkusen to win or draw
