Leverkusen Clinging to Third Place
It may have been terribly unlucky, but something is to be said of Leverkusen’s 3-2 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt in round 29. Stefan Kiessling’s brace canceled out Selim Teber’s early penalty, but Frankfurt scored a fantastic pair of unanswered goals to claim three points. Sure, Caio’s 30-meter rocket was unstoppable. Sure, central defender Maik Franz only scored with an audacious bicycle kick. Still, Leverkusen failed to do enough to win, which ultimately was all that mattered.
The winter champions’ loss last weekend was their third consecutive defeat, and again confirmed their identity as “Neverkusen.”
Sporting director Rudi Voeller was thoroughly disappointed: “We didn’t have much hope for the title before, but now we have to look back behind our shoulders and make sure to defend third place,” said the World Cup winner.
Indeed, in recent weeks, Leverkusen have seen a sizable advantage over Dortmund drop to just a single point. Any further slips, and the 2002 Champions League semi-finalists will miss out on a long-awaited return to Europe’s finest competition.
In a recent interview with Bild, coach Jupp Heynckes was upbeat: “These last few games have not changed our line of march.”
Heynckes’ stance may be perplexing, but in truth, Leverkusen have played deceivingly well in their last few games, only to fall victims to bad luck and ruthless finishing. It will take 90 minutes of full concentration, but if Leverkusen can overcome Bayern, it would surely put the winter champions back on course for a return to Champions League action.
Treble Hopes Still Alive for Bayern
In an eight-day span that has come to define their season, Bayern Munich passed all their tests with flying colors. Last Tuesday, the four-time Champions League winners came back from a goal behind to beat Manchester United in the first leg of their quarter-finals tie. At the weekend, Bayern beat Schalke and took first place despite being down to ten men for most of the match. Finally, this Wednesday, Bayern came back from 3-0 down against United to lose 3-2 but advance to the Champions League semi-finals on the away goals rule. It was yet another stunning comeback, and more evidence that Bayern are worthy of the nickname “FC Hollywood.”
After a miraculous week, Louis van Gaal’s side have one more major test looming: to get a good result away to winter champions Leverkusen, who now sit in third place. Unlike last week’s league encounter, Bayern can afford to draw and not concede top position. However, the Bavarians will be keen to carry their positive momentum as their pursuit of a treble continues.
Following their intense spell of difficult games, Bayern are both physically and emotionally drained, and van Gaal may opt to rotate his squad. Mario Gomez and Arjen Robben, the latter of whom scored the goal that lifted Bayern past United on Wednesday, are approaching full fitness, and both must be considered candidates to start, especially given the high number of minutes put in by the likes of Ivica Olic and Thomas Mueller in recent weeks.
A win this weekend would leave Van Gaal’s side at least two points ahead of Schalke, with four matches—all against teams placed 12th or lower—left to play in the campaign.
FORM GUIDE
Bayer Leverkusen
3 Apr v Eintracht Frankfurt (A) LOST 3-2 (Bundesliga)
27 Mar v Schalke (H) LOST 2-0 (Bundesliga)
20 Mar v Borussia Dortmund (A) LOST 3-0 (Bundesliga)
14 Mar v Hamburg (H) WON 4-2 (Bundesliga)
7 Mar v Nuernberg (A) LOST 3-2 (Bundesliga)
Bayern Munich
7 Apr v Manchester United (A) LOST 3-2 (Champions League)
3 Apr v Schalke (A) WON 2-1 (Bundesliga)
30 Mar v Manchester United (H) WON 2-1 (Champions League)
27 Mar v Stuttgart (H) LOST 2-1 (Bundesliga)
24 Mar v Schalke (A) WON 1-0 (DFB Pokal)
TEAM NEWS
Bayer Leverkusen
Right back Daniel Schwaab is suspended, and midfielders Renato Augusto and Simon Rolfes are also unavailable to play in Heynckes’ side due to injuries. As a consequence, Michal Kadlec will fill in at left back, pushing Gonzalo Castro to the right side, and Tranquillo Barnetta and Stefan Reinartz will resume their regular duties in midfield.
Possible Starting XI: Adler – Castro, Friedrich, Hyypia, Kadlec – Barnetta, Vidal, Reinartz, Kroos – Kiessling, Derdiyok
Bayern Munich
Following their midweek clash, no injuries have been reported, meaning that only suspended midfielder Hamit Altintop will be out of contention for a spot in van Gaal’s starting eleven. After a disastrous performance by Holger Badstuber, left back Diego Contento may reclaim a starting berth in defense. Up front, fit-again striker Mario Gomez may get the nod to start, especially if van Gaal opts to keep Arjen Robben, who has lately struggled with fatigue, on the bench.
Possible Starting XI: Butt – Lahm, Van Buyten, Demichelis, Badstuber – Mueller, Van Bommel, Schweinsteiger, Ribery – Gomez, Olic
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Toni Kroos (Bayer Leverkusen)
Started the 2010 calendar year in scintillating form, but has since dropped off a bit. The 19-year old midfielder has immense talent, and will be keen to put it on display against the club that loaned him to Leverkusen. The man named best player at the 2007 U-17 World Cup will be dangerous as a playmaker as well as from set pieces, from which his accuracy is immaculate.
Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich)
No longer his team’s primary superstar, Ribery is desperate to prove his class. After Robben scored against United, the French winger stepped up his game and chased after a potential match-killing goal, but was unable to find the net. Especially if his Dutch counterpart starts on the bench, expect Ribery to do everything possible to get on the score sheet.
PREDICTION
“Mia san mia” (we are who we are) is a Bavarian phrase that sums up Bayern Munich. They are who they are, and when motivated, have always found a way to win since Van Gaal’s reign as head coach began last summer. Leverkusen have to be respected, but the Bavarians seem to have more bite in their attack than their hosts.
Bayer Leverkusen 1-2 Bayern Munich
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