One reason for this: the two teams not only rely on their footballing class, but also on intensity. FC Bayern has sprinted 253 times this season, more than any other team. Leverkusen went full throttle 244 times (fourth place).
Diaby is the symbol of Leverkusen’s power
Bayer’s offensive was unstoppable in the end. The Werkself scored 23 times in the seven games in the second half of the season, 19 of which came in the last five games. Moussa Diaby in particular excelled.
Since moving to Leverkusen in 2019, the Frenchman has repeatedly indicated his class, but there was a lack of efficiency. Now Diaby combines everything: great technique, speed and callousness in front of goal. Seven goals in the last five games is a rate that not even Robert Lewandowski can match.
Bayern’s top scorer is still the most successful Bundesliga player in the second half of the season – with nine goals. Lewandowski has not scored in just six games this season.
The longing for the top
The duel Diaby against Lewandowski is representative of that between Bayern and Bayer. Of course, Diaby would like to get into the spheres in which FIFA world footballer Lewandowski is at some point – he has the talent for it. And of course Leverkusen also has the (long-term) goal of getting back into the Munich sphere.
In the past few weeks and months, the Gerardo Seoane team has proven that the team has at least some fundamentals. But that’s how it was often in recent years – and then came the game against FC Bayern, which caused great disillusionment.
Most recently, always a damper for Leverkusen
In the first half of the season, Leverkusen received the record champions as a possible challenger in the fight for the championship title, had to concede five goals from Munich and went down 1:5. Last season, Leverkusen welcomed Bayern at their own stadium as leaders on matchday 17, lost to a Lewandowski goal shortly before the end and then fell dramatically.
In 2020, Bayern won the cup final 4-2, two years earlier the Leverkusen cup dreams were shattered in a 6-2 win against Munich in the semi-finals. You kept thinking you were on the verge of eye level and then realized that it wasn’t enough after all.
Even in these unsuccessful games, Leverkusen managed to pose problems for the Bavarian defense again and again. In terms of efficiency, however, it was clearly inferior. Like so many of Munich’s opponents in the “top games”.
Almost unbeatable top game Bayern
All four defeats for coach Julian Nagelsmann’s team this season were against teams that were below tenth place at the time. But against the teams from the upper regions, Bayern traditionally do not show any weaknesses.
An example of this is the streak of 16 games unbeaten when Munich was part of a Bundesliga duel between first and second. Twelve of these games were even won. Now Leverkusen, who have lost the last seven games against a league leader, could counter-argument that they are “only” third. But is that enough?
For Bayern, it’s entering the decisive phase
In addition to the final sprint in the Bundesliga, in which all signs point to a championship, Bayern still have knockout games in the Champions League. After the disappointment in the DFB Cup (eliminated in the second round), there is a ban on stumbling in the premier class, although after the 1-1 win at RB Salzburg there is still a risk of stumbling.
The second leg against the Austrians follows the duel against Leverkusen next Tuesday (March 8th, 9:00 p.m.). The Seoane team finally wants to show that they are more than just a sparring partner in the dress rehearsal.