Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen wrapped up Saturday’s Bundesliga top-flight clash on every level but go into this coming week’s UEFA Champions League games knowing things could be a little tougher. Germany’s top two traded goals through Aleksandar Pavlovic and Robert Andrich in a draw, but both enter their European games on the back of big wins that are set to be tested in high-profile matchday two encounters. Bayern travel to face Aston Villa while Leverkusen are due to face Milan at home and a low-scoring domestic title clash provided an ideal test ahead of a return to UCL action.
Vincent Kompany’s men maintain a three-point lead over Xabi Alonso’s side, which is perhaps the most important element of all, but it also represents the only time Bayern have failed to win so far this season. As well as a continued run of decent form for Die Werkself despite an early loss to RB Leipzig, the Bavarians dominated possession and chances created but Leverkusen were less wasteful which could count in their favor going forward given Bayern’s more favorable fixtures so far this term.
This was a chance for the visitors to draw level with the early season leaders but in the end it was a stalemate between arguably the two strongest sides in the Bundesliga. While it could ultimately count against Leverkusen as two points dropped from taking the lead before the home outfit equalised, it is also proof that there may not be as big a difference between the two as may have been made out earlier this term. Greater mastery over 90 minutes could be required against Milan this coming week, but pragmatism has won domestically and could benefit them.
Perhaps, to Leverkusen’s credit, they were able to hold Bayern to a single goal, which no team has been able to do at all this season across all competitions and it’s hard to imagine a leaky Villa defense holding out for a full 90 minutes in Birmingham. . However, for the hosts, four other teams have scored more than once against the Bavarians already this year and that inability going forward could come back to haunt Alonso and his players as this season continues. European form is distinct to domestic but the level is arguably higher game by game and Kompany’s men have more experience when it comes to balancing Bundesliga and UCL commitments.
The Belgian tactician has his team firing forward and quite tight defensively at the moment but the sample size remains relatively small due to the two teams’ different set of opening fixtures. The Spaniard has arguably come through the tougher set of games and is just three points off a league-leading pace with just two points adrift of RB Leipzig in second. That is about to change, however, with Villa, Eintracht Frankfurt, VfB Stuttgart and Barcelona next in a loaded run of games for the German giants.
As for Leverkusen, Milan, Holstein Kiel, Frankfurt and Stade Brestois 29 are relatively easier games to face and logically should produce points for the defending German champions before the more difficult tasks of Stuttgart and Liverpool. Where that leaves the Bundesliga title race is undecided, for now, but it has been suggested that there could be changes in Bayern’s place, until a team like Leverkusen comes along to ruffle some feathers. Meanwhile, RB Leipzig are in second between Bayern and Leverkusen while Borussia Dortmund are within three points of top spot, suggesting a more open title race in Germany than usual.
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