In the round of 16 of the Champions League of FC Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday (05.03.2025, live in a ticker and audio stream on Sportschau.de) for the fourth and fifth time this season. Why predictions are almost impossible.
“Football is an error game. If you make less of it, you wins” – This wisdom is used by Johan Cruyff, the former world star as a player and trainer, is regularly used by trainers when they talk about upcoming games. Most of them do this to express that the opponent is not one that you can simply play. He had to make mistakes and offer opportunities, otherwise it would be difficult.
FC Bayern and Bayer 04 do not offer a spectacle against each other
In retrospect, it is often a matter of opinion. If you think it is good, praise the winner for his performance, whoever chooses a more negative approach, criticizes the loser for performance. And yet it is almost never the case that it really matters one mistake. Ordinary games in the Bundesliga and other upper houses in Europe are full of shortcomings. Only when two exceptional teams meet, is it really the case that the very few are punished immediately.
This is exactly where games between FC Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen belong to this category. The two best teams in the Bundesliga met three times this season – and the results of 1: 1, 0: 1 and 0: 0 reflect exactly what distinguishes this duel. It was never a footballing spectacle, but every time it was games at outstanding tactical level, in which almost no mistakes happened.
Three games, only Manuel Neuer failed
Bayer coach Xabi Alonso has always come up with something special for the games against Munich. In the Bundesliga first leg, Leverkusen was still totally inferior – but also because the Spaniard wanted it. The Doubles winner wiped in the back, wanted to counter, but didn’t do it. The result was extremely happy, a corner kick that was completely unnecessarily caused by Aleksandar Pavlovic (equalized later) led to the “Werkelf” lead.
A little more than two months later, the two teams met again in Munich – and Alonso sacrificed his center forward for more counter moments. Since then, the Leverkusen title coach in both games has given up both Patrik Schick and Victor Boniface, but chose an additional player for more security or more technology and speed.
In the trophy, Alonso built the Bayer bulwark even more densely with a chain of four and three six, while Vincent Kompany remained loyal every time. The fact that this game was the only one of the previous three Bayern Leverkusen duels with a winner was because the only big mistake has happened in 270 minutes. Manuel Neuer saw the red card in the 17th minute and opened the door to the rival.
Bayern were dominant twice – but it was also part of Bayer tactics. In the Bundesliga second leg recently in Leverkusen it was the other way around. Munich hugged at the back, it was probably the only game this season in which Kompany made a little different. Bayer – this time with Nathan Tella as a fast -paced man – made the game, had chances, but did not hit the goal. Munich was inferior, but did not make a coarse mistake and got the point it wanted.
At eye level with slight advantages for Bayer Leverkusen?
Three games have shown that Bavaria and Bayer are as much at eye level as there may be no two other teams in Europe at this level. They know exactly about the strengths of the opponent, and that he has practically no weaknesses. The daily form will also be decisive in the round of 16 of the Champions League, especially the mistakes if they are made.
Because there will probably be very few of them when both teams are in good shape. Accordingly, it is actually impossible to make out a favorite – whereby one or the other felt that the past game was impressed in Leverkusen to grant Bayer greater opportunities.
Rummenigge: FC Bayern stored by favorite role
Apparently that was not well received in Munich. “Do you know what makes me optimistic? That all Bayer Leverkusen have declared favorites. I know our team, you do not stink to the gone. And accordingly on Wednesday I expect our team to go full throttle against their own backdrop – and then play with eleven men”said former CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
Bavaria’s former CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
In the domestic stadium, FC Bayern wants to lay the basis to maintain the chance of the final in Munich. Six days after the first leg – the games take place on March 5 and 11 – the decision will only be made. Because both teams are equally strong, it will depend on who will show a weakness. With this royal class duel, football really becomes a fault. It couldn’t be closer.