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Bayern Munich eager to stamp authority on league leaders Leverkusen
BERLIN, Dec 18, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Second-placed Bayern Munich are eager to
stamp their authority on the Bundesliga with a win at current leaders Bayer
Leverkusen on Saturday in their third top-of-the-table clash already this
season.
Under their Dutch coach Peter Bosz, Leverkusen are the only club still
unbeaten in the German league.
They are a point ahead of Bayern after Wednesday’s 4-0 thumping of Cologne.
In contrast, Bayern needed two Robert Lewandowski goals and Manuel Neuer’s
saves to see off Wolfsburg 2-1 in midweek having drawn their two previous
games.
Mounting injuries and a dense fixture list have taken their toll on Bayern
who have looked jaded in recent weeks.
Lewandowski, who won FIFA’s ‘The Best” award for player of the year on
Thursday, says Saturday’s showdown gives Bayern the chance to shake off any
fatigue in their final league game of 2020 before a two-week winter break.
“A lot of it is in the head, we just have to step on the gas, no matter how
good Leverkusen are – we have to win the last game,” said Lewandowski, who
has scored 18 goals in 17 games this season.
Having lifted the Champions League, German Cup, Bundesliga and UEFA Super
Cup over the last 12 months, Bayern coach Hansi Flick wants to “finish a
great 2020” with three away points.
This is the third top-of-the-table clash Bayern have had recently,
including their 3-2 win at Dortmund, who were then second, in November and 3-
3 draw at home to Leipzig a fortnight ago.
Leverkusen were the last team to beat Bayern at home – in any competition –
when Jamaica winger Leon Bailey scored twice in a 2-1 win at the Allianz
Arena in late November 2019.
“Everyone is beatable,” insisted Leverkusen midfielder Nadiem Amiri.
“You have to have a lot of heart, show a lot of will, we definitely have
the quality.”
His side shone with goals by Mitchell Weiser, Moussa Diaby, Patrik Schick
and 17-year-old Florian Wirtz at Cologne, whose head coach Markus Gisdol
insisted Leverkusen are currently “on a different level”.
Bosz says Leverkusen are “playing with confidence and a good feeling” but
Bayern always provide a test for any rivals with title aspirations.
Third-placed RB Leipzig, only a point behind Leverkusen, take on Cologne
who are just above the relegation zone.
Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann says three points at home is “very, very
important” in their final league match of 2020 to crown a year which saw them
reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time. One to watch:
Moussa Diaby
The France Under-21 winger was outstanding in Leverkusen’s thrashing of
Cologne, smashing home an early goal and providing the cross for Patrik
Schick to score Leverkusen’s third.
On Thursday, it was confirmed the 21-year-old has signed a contract
extension which ties him to Leverkusen until 2025.
He has scored 13 goals and created 14 more in 58 games since joining
Leverkusen from Paris Saint-Germain last year.
Key stats
2 – Leverkusen’s wins over Bayern in the last 10 games between the clubs,
including home and away victories in 2019.
28 – Bottom side Schalke’s winless streak, dating back to January, leaving
them three short of the unwanted league record before Saturday’s home match
against Arminia Bielefeld.
251 – the Bundesliga goals Lewandowski has scored for Bayern and former
club Borussia Dortmund. Only legend Gerd Mueller and Schalke striker Klaus
Fischer have previously achieved the milestone of 250 league goals.
Fixtures (1330GMT unless stated)
Friday
Union Berlin v Borussia Dortmund (1930)
Saturday
RB Leipzig v Cologne, Borussia Moenchengladbach v Hoffenheim, Schalke 04 v
Arminia Bielefeld, Mainz 05 v Werder Bremen, Augsburg v Eintracht Frankfurt,
Bayer Leverkusen v Bayern Munich (1730)
Sunday
Freiburg v Hertha Berlin, VfL Wolfsburg v VfB Stuttgart (1700)
BSS/AFP/GMR/0914 hrs