Tough game Alonso!

Leverkusen has yet to sit at the top of the Bundesliga standings this season, despite being the defending champions. This season has been a stark contrast to last, when they dominated the league, holding the top spot from Week 6 through the final matchday. Their clash with Bayern Munich was a prime opportunity to get back into the title race.

In their previous match, Leverkusen was held to a 0-0 draw by Wolfsburg, leaving them in second place but now 8 points behind Bayern (46 to 54). That’s a significant gap to close, and it won’t be easy. To be fair, Leverkusen has been solid, suffering just one loss in their last 19 games. However, Bayern Munich has simply been too dominant. Bayern had won seven straight Bundesliga matches, and across all competitions, they’ve scored at least three goals in 19 games this season. With such impressive firepower, Bayern was expected to earn at least a point in Leverkusen, and they did just that. Leverkusen had an impressive 11-game winning streak at home, but failing to beat Bayern would end their hopes of making it 12, and make defending their title even more difficult. The outcome of the match proved just how tough that road would be.

Leverkusen played with more intensity and urgency in front of their home fans, pressing Bayern and making it difficult for them to control the game or launch attacks. In the 21st minute, Florian Wirtz cut past Bayern’s Dayot Upamecano and had a one-on-one with keeper Manuel Neuer, but his shot was saved. The ball rebounded to Jeremie Frimpong, whose header struck the crossbar. A few minutes later, Bayern got lucky again when Tella’s close-range shot was denied by the woodwork. It was clear that the defending champions were creating the better chances, but they couldn’t find the back of the net. The first half ended 0-0.

After the break, Bayern head coach Vincent Kompany introduced key players like Leroy Sané, Serge Gnabry, and Leon Goretzka, hoping to spark an offensive surge. However, Bayern’s attacks remained disjointed and failed to break down Leverkusen’s defense. The hosts continued to pile on the pressure. In the 66th minute, Leverkusen came agonizingly close to taking the lead from a corner kick. Jonathan Tah’s header found Tella for a close-range shot, but Bayern’s Hiroki Ito made a critical clearance off the line, keeping the score level. In added time, Neuer was forced into a series of heroic saves to keep Bayern from walking away empty-handed.

The match ended in a 0-0 draw, meaning the 8-point gap between the two teams remains unchanged. While Bayern managed to preserve their lead in the title race, the result still left a portion of their fanbase frustrated. This marked the first time in 17 years that Bayern failed to put any significant pressure on an opponent’s goal. Nonetheless, this result is still a positive one for Bayern’s pursuit of the title. However, for Xabi Alonso and Leverkusen, defending their crown just became a whole lot harder.