Bayern Munich will look to extend their lead at the top of the Bundesliga table when they take on Bayer Leverkusen away from home on Sunday.
Bayern Munich are two points clear at the top of the table, and the game against Bayer Leverkusen will be a great opportunity for them to open up a substantial gap with title rivals Borussia Dortmund with a win.
The visitors are coming into this game on the back of three consecutive wins and they will be full of confidence heading into this game. Bayern Munich are undoubtedly the favourites to pick up all three points here.
On the other hand, Leverkusen are 9th in the league table and they are coming into this contest on the back of two impressive wins over Hertha Berlin and Werder Bremen. Leverkusen are six points adrift of the European positions and they will be hoping to finish the season strongly and secure European football for the next season. The home side are on a two-match winning run and they will look to pull off an upset here.
🗣️ @J__Nagelsmann: "Our aim is to beat Leverkusen. We can't relax. I will use our in-form players, regardless of a potential ban for five yellow cards."#MiaSanMia #B04FCB pic.twitter.com/nEz5t8zsvZ
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) March 17, 2023
Team News & Tactics
Bayer Leverkusen
The home side will be without the services of Andrey Lunev, who is suffering from a back injury. Xabi Alonso is likely to field his side in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Lukas Hradecky in goal. In the back three, Edmond Tapsoba will start alongside Jonathan Tah and Piero Hincapie.
Jeremie Frimpong and Mitchel Bakker are likely to be deployed as the wing-backs. The duo will look to add creativity and width to the side and help out defensively as well. In the middle of the park, Exequiel Palacios will partner with Robert Andrich, and the two players will look to keep the side defensively compact and break up the opposition play.
Moussa Diaby and Florian Wirtz have been in impressive form this season. They will look to add creativity to the side and link the midfield with the attack. Sardar Azmoun will lead the line for Leverkusen here.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Palacios, Andrich, Bakker; Diaby, Wirtz; Azmoun
Bayern Munich
The visitors are without the services of Lucas Hernandez, Manuel Neuer and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. Hernandez suffered an ACL injury during the World Cup, and he is unlikely to return anytime soon. Choupo-Moting is ruled out with a back injury.
🗣️ @J__Nagelsmann on the squad: "Choupo is out because of his back. We will have to see how he recovers. Mathys Tel had some stiffness in a muscle. I don't think he'll miss out. Everyone else is fit."#MiaSanMia #B04FCB pic.twitter.com/GhcMpBrkky
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) March 17, 2023
Bayern Munich are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Yann Sommer in goal. January signing Joao Cancelo will start as the right-back, with Alphonso Davies on the left of the defence. Both players will look to add creativity from the flanks.
Matthijs de Ligt will partner Benjamin Pavard at the heart of the defence. The two players will help Bayern Munich build from the back apart from the defensive duties. In the midfield pivot, Joshua Kimmich will start alongside Leon Goretzka. Kimmich will look to break up the opposition play and Goretzka will add drive and defensive cover to the side.
Sadio Mane and Leroy Sane will be deployed as the wingers here, and the two players will look to add pace, flair and goals to the side. Jamal Musiala will start in the hole with Serge Gnabry leading the line for the visitors.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sommer; Cancelo, De Ligt, Pavard, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Sane, Musiala, Mane; Gnabry
Key Stats
- Bayern Munich have scored at least two goals in their last six games in the Bundesliga.
- Bayern Munich have scored a Bundesliga-record 47 first-half goals in 2022/23.
- Bayer Leverkusen have conceded more goals this season from set pieces (six) than any other team.
- The last five games for Bayer Leverkusen have seen both teams scoring.
- Bayern Munich have scored in the last eight games they have played on the road.
Player to Watch
Jamal Musiala
The Bayern Munich midfielder has been in impressive form this season, and he has 11 goals and eight assists in 20 league starts this season.
The talented youngster will be crucial when it comes to breaking down the Bayer Leverkusen backline. His ability to operate between the lines and link up with the attackers could prove to be priceless here.
Prediction
Bayer Leverkusen 1-3 Bayern Munich
The visitors are the better team here, and they are on an impressive run of form. Furthermore, Bayern Munich are unbeaten in their last six outings against Bayer Leverkusen. The home side have been quite inconsistent this season, and their defence is likely to let them down here.
Bayern Munich have one of the best attacking units in world football, and they are up against the side that has conceded 39 goals in 24 league matches. Leverkusen will look to put up a fight here but they are likely to crash to a home defeat. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Bayern Munich.
