Can Bayer Leverkusen Beat Bayern To The Bundesliga Title?
Xabi Alonso‘s Bayer Leverkusen side has been a revelation through the first half of the Bundesliga season. The club currently sits on top of the Bundesliga table with 42 points from 16 games, four points ahead of the German giants Bayern Munich who have won 11 straight Bundesliga titles. With their early season form, excitement is brewing around Leverkusen, and the question has now become: can Bayer Leverkusen oust Bayern and win the Bundesliga title?
Strength From Back To Front:
Bayer Leverkusen has been incredibly impressive on the offensive side of the game. Die Werkself has scored a club-record 46 goals in their 16 Bundesliga games, trailing only Bayern in goals scored. They are currently second in the league in terms of shots on goal (266), second in shot efficiency (+7.0) and third in terms of expected goals (39.0).
New-signing Victor Boniface leads the way with 10 goals for Leverkusen while also providing seven assists. His 75 shots on goal is the most of any Bundesliga player, and with the creative Florian Wirtz pulling the strings in midfield behind him, Leverkusen has looked incredibly potent in attack.
Alonso’s side is not just strong on the offensive side of the ball, however. What is more impressive is how solid his side has been defensively. Bayer Leverkusen has conceded only 12 goals this season, the least amount conceded in the Bundesliga.
This is due to the strength of the three and five-back formations that Alonso has put forth this year. Players such as Jonathan Tah, Edmond Tapsoba and Odilon Kossounou have anchored the backline, while Ãlex Grimaldo and Jeremie Frimpong have offered defensive support out wide.
Leverkusen has looked impressive both in attack and in defense. No other team has been able to boast the strength that Leverkusen has across the pitch so far this season.
Strong New Additions:
Despite seemingly all of the attention during the summer transfer window going to Bayern after signing world-class English striker Harry Kane, Alonso managed to have an impressive transfer window for his Leverkusen side.
Despite losing star player Moussa Diaby to Premier League side Aston Villa, Alonso significantly strengthened his squad over the summer. Leverkusen signed Granit Xhaka from Arsenal, who has become a reliable player for Alonso in midfield. Jonas Hofmann and Boniface have provided goals and competition for Patrik Schick up top and Grimaldo has secured the vacant left wing-back role.
The players signed for Leverkusen this season have contributed immensely to Leverkusen’s early-season success and could be the key to pushing Leverkusen to the title in the second half of the year.
The Best Young Manager In The World?
Bayer Leverkusen’s success has to be attributed to its manager. Before Xabi Alonso joined the club last year, Leverkusen was in second-to-last-place in the league. Now, the club is leading the Bundesliga at the halfway point of the year.
The former Bayern midfielder’s side is dangerous in the attack and solid in defense. They have won 13 games, tied Bayern on the road and look like the best team in the Bundesliga. This is due to the tactical and game-management genius of Alonso.
With the success he is having with Leverkusen right now, I think he is more than likely to become Real Madrid’s next manager when Carlo Ancelotti leaves the club this summer to take charge of Brazil. As a Real Madrid legend and former youth coach, this only makes sense, but until then, Alonso will continue to lead Leverkusen in its mission to dethrone Bayern.
Results Don’t Lie:
The main reason why Bayer Leverkusen looks like it can win the league is due to the results it has picked up this year. The club has 13 wins and 3 draws in the Bundesliga, 6 wins in the Europa League and is still alive in the DFB Pokal. In fact, Bayer Leverkusen is the only team in a top-five league that is unbeaten in all competitions.
Leverkusen also picked up a point in the toughest game on the Bundesliga schedule, tying Bayern 2-2 at the Allianz Arena. Bayer Leverkusen are currently Europe’s most in-form team and has passed their hardest test in the league. The question now is, can they continue this after the Bundesliga winter break?
This is what will be interesting to watch during the second half of the Bundesliga season. No one has been able to beat Bayern to the Bundesliga in over a decade. Borussia Dortmund was close last year but faltered on the final day.
Now, Leverkusen finds themselves with the Bundesliga in their hands. They have taken care of business so far but still have 18 league games left. There is still a lot of football to be played in Germany, but one thing is certain: Bayer Leverkusen is legit, and they have the manager, the players and the style of play capable of dethroning Bayern this season.
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