Bayern Munich are set to host current DFB Pokal holders Bayer Leverkusen as a place in the competition’s quarterfinals awaits.
Bayern Munich will turn their attention to their DFB Pokal duties as they host current holders Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday. Vincent Kompany’s side survived a scare at the weekend that threatened to ruin their unbeaten start to the Bundesliga season after salvaging a late draw against Borussia Dortmund in the latest edition of the Der Klassiker.
An early Jamie Bynoe-Gittens strike was instrumental in Dortmund keeping hold of the game until late in the game when Jamal Musiala scored a late equaliser. Now, Kompany will shift his focus towards the cup tie with Leverkusen, as a place in the quarter-finals of the competition awaits.
Bayern Munich are here in this stage following identical 4-0 wins over Ulm and Mainz, although their next clash will be much more challenging than those two. Kompany will be certainly targeting cup glory at the end of the season, and dethrone the current holders right at this stage, as Die Roten have already lifted this cup 20 times in the past.
Much like Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen have beaten inferior opposition teams to reach this stage of the competition and now faces the formidable challenge of the Bavarians. The only difference between now and some of their previous encounters with their adversaries is that Xabi Alonso’s side will come here in a different mood and level of confidence.
Leverkusen have so far beaten Carl Zeiss Jena in August, before beating Elversberg 3-0 in round two. Against Bayern Munich, Die Werkself are unbeaten in their last four games but have only eliminated the Bavarians once in seven cup meetings in the past.
As far as their league form is concerned, Leverkusen are already nine points behind Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga race, and Alonso will want to make amends for that with another cup run. Hence, this clash has all the elements of an entertaining game ahead, as one of these giants will have to bow out.
Team News & Tactics
Bayern Munich
Vincent Kompany will be sweating on Harry Kane’s fitness. The England skipper could now miss a few weeks of action after the club confirmed a minor hamstring injury. Had the England skipper stayed fit, he might have started on the bench in this cup game, as Kompany would have given Mathys Tel the chance to shine up front, and that might be the case for now and the coming weeks.
There are further problems with the squad as Joao Palinha, Hiroki Ito, Josip Stanisic, and Sven Ulreich are all unavailable due to injury issues. The only positive news on the injury front is that Aleksandar Pavlovic has returned to training from a shoulder operation, which does leave some doubts about his inclusion in the squad for this clash.
Either way, Bayern have plenty of talents in their squad for Kompany, to name a strong enough lineup for this biog match. Tell will likely lead the line, although veteran Thomas Muller is also an option for Kompany to consider. Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka are the likely pairing in central midfield.
Michael Olise, Jamal Musiala and Kingsley Coman are all set to feature in the attacking setup. Overall, there are no signs of Kompany going with a second-string team for this one, although the likes of Sacha Boey could get a start in the defence.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Boey, Upamecano, Kim, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Olise, Musiala, Coman; Tel
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen have their fair share of injury-related issues ahead of this gigantic trip to Munich. Alonso may need help to count on the services of key striker Victor Boniface as well as stars like Jonas Hofmann, Amine Adli, Jeanuel Belocian and Martin Terrier, with these players likely to sit out of the game with respective injuries.
This could be the game in which Xabi Alonso uses his wildcard player, Ukrainian teenager Artem Stepanov, in an extensive role after handing him his senior debut recently. He could also go with a safer option, Patrick Schick.
Apart from that, Alonso is not likely to go a different route than Kompany and name a strong enough lineup to face Bayern’s challenge and treat this game as a big league or Champions League clash.
Granit Xhaka and Robert Andrich are the mainstays in midfield, while key man Florian Wirtz will be their main creative force in the attacking third. Bayer Leverkusen are also expected to start with their regular back three of Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah and Piero Hincapie to contain a formidable Bayern Munich attack.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Kovar; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Andrich, Xhaka, Grimaldo; Garcia, Wirtz; Schick
Key Stats
- Bayern Munich have lifted the DFB Pokal 20 times in the past.
- Bayern Munich have not won the DFB Pokal since 2020.
- Bayer Leverkusen are unbeaten against Bayern Munich in four games across all competitions.
- Bayer Leverkusen have scored in each of their last 34 DFB Pokal games.
Player to Watch
Mathys Tel
It is business as usual in Germany when the two sides meet in the cup competition, although this game will have a competitive nature to it. With Harry Kane missing from action for the coming weeks, it is an opportunity and a half for Mathys Tel to showcase his talent.
Vincent Kompany has used the young prospect sporadically, primarily due to Kane’s superior goalscoring form. Tel should take this opportunity with both hands. Hence, this is a game he has to shine in, or else Kompany will resort back to using Thomas Muller in Kane’s place.
Prediction
Bayern Munich 2-1 Bayer Leverkusen
Xabi Alonso’s side are less formidable than they were last season, and that could show when they face off with Bayern Munich in the cup competition. However, they could be in better form this term, meaning there are chances the holders will come short this time around.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich have been somewhat inconsistent but ruthless enough to convince themselves that last season was a blip in their armour. Hence, Vincent Kompany’s men are expected to take this challenge head-on and advance to the quarter-finals of the DFB Pokal, albeit with a slender scoreline.