FC Bayern suffered a surprising setback in the championship battle with Leverkusen. This means that the signs change fundamentally. The record champions are facing the worst-case scenario.
Julian Buhl reports from the Allianz Arena
Thomas Müller impressively showed reporters in the catacombs of the Allianz Arena how quickly he can recognize situations. When Werder Bremen’s Niklas Stark came out of the dressing room with a sound box after the 1-0 away coup at FC Bayern and ran through the mixed zone on the opposite side, Müller quickly used the moment of surprise to escape. “Now you realize who the victory was important to,” he said, ending his interview while the Ballerman hit “Dicht im Flieger” and its booming bass filled the room.
Müller had already arrived at the exit door when he stopped again for t-online. The vice-captain of the record champions could not and did not want to leave the question about the now completely changed starting position in the title duel with Bayer Leverkusen unanswered.
Müller: “The reality is now a new one”
“The matchday was of course a disaster for us in the championship fight,” Müller told t-online. “The situation, the reality, is of course new now.”
It looks like this: after their mistake, the Munich team can no longer become champions on their own and have to hope that their title rivals make a mistake. Because while Bayern unexpectedly lost against Bremen, Leverkusen won 3-2 in Leipzig despite being behind twice with a goal in added time.
If the “Werkself” led by head coach After that, Bayer now has a seven point lead over Bayern.
Even if they win their catch-up game on Wednesday evening against Union Berlin and the direct duel on February 10th, Leverkusen would still be one point ahead of the table – and Bayern would have to hope for further slip-ups from the Leverkusen team, who are still unbeaten this season.
“We no longer have it in our own hands, that’s true,” Bavaria’s CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen told t-online. “We just played boring football for the first 70 minutes,” the 56-year-old continued: “Bremen sensed that something was going against us today and deserved to win.” Bayern, on the other hand, “didn’t show the attitude that you have to show. You just have to work, bite and make an effort.” But Bayern didn’t do any of that on Sunday afternoon.
Leverkusen presents itself like Bayern
Leverkusen, at least Dreesen hopes, will certainly “show one or two weaknesses”. After all, their last two games “weren’t that confident either”. Alonso’s team still won the games (1-0 in Augsburg and 3-2 in Leipzig) in added time – almost Bayern-like. This is exactly how the Munich team has won many victories and even titles in the past.
Ex-Bayern captain Michael Ballack said on DAZN: “These are the games that ultimately win you championships when you look back.” Dreesen is still certain: “Nothing is lost if we pull ourselves together and focus on our strengths.” He referred to the “long season” ahead.