An exciting duel for the title in the Bundesliga is looming. The Asian and African Cups bring in additional drama.
They both set and equal records. Bayer Leverkusen became only the second team in the history of the Bundesliga to score 31 of a possible 33 points in the first eleven games. Only FC Bayern Munich under Pep Guardiola achieved this result in the 2015/16 season – with Xabi Alonso as a player who has now shaped Leverkusen into a top team. Meanwhile, pursuers Bayern (two points behind) are the best runners-up in league history.
The other teams are already lurking at a fairly good distance for any slip-ups by the two clubs. The number of points doesn’t represent the difference between the leading duo and the rest of the top group as much as the consistent quality that Bayer and Bayern bring to the pitch. It’s not for nothing that the goal differences are by far the best at +24 (Leverkusen) and +33 (Munich).
Everything indicates that these teams will fight for the championship title until the end. But first in January and February the question will be who will be able to cope best with two events that will really shake up the squads.
Bayer quintet is probably flying to the Africa Cup
The Africa Cup of Nations will take place in Morocco from January 13th to February 11th – and it will cause some personnel problems at Bayer. The Alonso team currently has five national players whose home countries will take part in the tournament at the beginning of 2024 and who could therefore be missing at the start of the second half of the season. Because there are overlaps between the Bundesliga and the Africa Cup on five match days.
The “Werkself” will most likely be missing major pillars of their previous success in Victor Boniface, Edmond Tapsoba and Odilon Kossounou, as well as two important rotation players in Amine Adli and Nathan Tella. Even if some of these players and their nations were eliminated in the group stage, they would miss three games.
Leverkusen needs Schick to return
“Not having maybe five players for January and February is a concern” said Alonso before the weekend’s convincing 4-0 win against Union Berlin. “It’s a reality. We have to accept that. It’s not perfect, but there’s little we can do about it.“Especially since the Spaniard plays with a three-man chain, with two central defenders breaking away from his regular formation.
It becomes doubly problematic, especially when the alternatives run out. There is no longer any replacement for Florian Wirtz and Jonas Hofmann due to the loss of Adli and Tella. The “Werkself” have to hope for the recovery of Patrik Schick up front. Although there is still a talented striker in Adam Hlozek, Schick would be the replacement for Boniface if he regains the form of the 2021/22 season, in which he scored 24 league goals.
FC Bayern are missing at least Kim and Mazraoui
But it’s not just Leverkusen who is worried about the start of 2024 – at FC Bayern there are even two events that are causing bottlenecks. Thomas Tuchel also already complained that he “at least two” Players would not have been available. Noussair Mazraoui will play at the Africa Cup of Nations and Min-jae Kim will play for South Korea at the Asian Cup, which will take place in Qatar from January 12th to February 10th.
This is also why Tuchel renewed his desire for new signings. “We’re keeping our eyes and ears open and trying – as in every transfer period – to strengthen our team. I hope we succeed“, said the Bayern coach after Uli Hoeneß had already announced winter reinforcements.
Thomas Tuchel is annoyed
Direct duel at the end of both tournaments
Such demands were not heard from Alonso. In its purchasing policy, the club has taken into account the problematic overlaps with the Africa Cup; after all, two players, Boniface and Tella, were signed in the summer and are now affected. But Leverkusen has the confidence in the squad to absorb the losses, at least for the first (up to five) games.
However, it would be important for both clubs that all players would be back on board at least for the fifth game after the winter break. Because then there will be the big duel between Leverkusen and Munich in the BayArena. Especially if one or two are still missing, the Asian Championship and the Africa Cup will help decide the title fight.