For the first time, the intermediate round is on the program in the new mode of the Champions League. Bavaria expects an apparently feasible task. But the subsequent exam could be the hardest.
The group phase of the Champions League ended at the end of January with an XXL game day. The game was played in 18 places. The teams pushed themselves up in the table every minute or slipped. In the end, three of the five German teams survived the league: FC Bayern, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen. RB Leipzig and VfB Stuttgart are out.
After completing the last group games, it is also clear who the three German teams will meet in their next Champions League games-at least in two cases. Because the lot decided: BVB will meet Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday (from 9 p.m. in the live ticker at T-Online). Bayern will deal with Scotland’s champion Celtic Glasgow on Wednesday (from 9 p.m. in the live ticker at T-Online).
Only the Leverkuseners do not yet know who will be their opponent. As the sixth of the group phase, the “Werkelf” made it directly into the round of 16. There could be a hammer duel there-with a German opponent.
Because it is already certain: the Bayern prevail in the two duels with Celtic, meet in the round of 16 on one of two absolute top -class carets. This is already specified by the tournament tree. It is possible for one of the Spanish traditional club Atlético Madrid – but also Bayer Leverkusen.
The lottery decision will once again determine whether the Munich team will meet the “Colchoneros” (German: mattress maker) or the worst Bundesliga competence. After the draw of the intermediate round games at the end of January, a second followed on February 21, after the playoffs, a second that refers to the further tournament. It is decided not only which teams meet in the round of 16, but also who will potentially face each other in the quarter and semi-finals. That means: The entire rest of the tournament tree is determined.
For the German fans, of course, the look is aimed at the intermediate round-and the possible hammer duel in the round of 16. Because anything but a victory of Bayern via Celtic would be a surprise. Most recently, both teams met twice in 2017. Bayern prevailed both times.
The latest record of the German record champion against the impending round of 16 final opponents looks different. Of the last five games, Bayern could not win a single against Leverkusen. They even left the pitch three times. Accordingly, the reigning double winner is something like the new opponent of the Munich.
Finally, Leverkusen threw Bayern from the DFB Cup (1-0) in early December. A deep blow for Germany’s showcase club and its new trainer Vincent Kompany. However, the 3-0 victory of the Elf of Xabi Alonso remains in memory exactly one year ago. The game was the same as a demonstration of power – and led a kind of preliminary decision in the fight for the German championship.
On Saturday, Bayern and Leverkusen will be able to do each other again in the Bundesliga (from 6.30 p.m. in the live ticker at T-Online). This time the signs are others. With a sense of achievement, the Munich team would force a preliminary decision in the title fight this year. The other way around, Leverkusen could intervene again in the championship race.
The game on weekends may already be a finger for a possible round of round of rounds of 16 of both teams in the premier class. Because for Bavaria the “Finale Dahoam”, that is, the final in the local Allianz Arena, has top priority. A dream that the rival Bayer Leverkusen could burst like a soap bubble in the event of cases.