Bayern Munich take on the visitors Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of UEFA Champions League round of 1/8-finals. The match will be played on Wednesday, March 5th at Allianz Arena (Munich).
Bayern have dominated German football for years, but their grip on the Bundesliga has shown cracks. In 2023, they only retained the title due to Borussia Dortmund’s final-day collapse. That scare prompted an aggressive squad overhaul, highlighted by the record signing of Harry Kane—yet Bayern failed to win a single trophy last season. In an unexpected move, Vincent Kompany was appointed head coach to turn things around. While they currently lead the Bundesliga, their DFB-Pokal campaign ended with a home loss to Bayer Leverkusen. Their Champions League journey has been turbulent as well, with several defeats—including heavy ones—in the group stage. In the previous round, after winning 2-1 in Glasgow, they found themselves trailing Celtic at home and were only saved from embarrassment by Alphonso Davies’ stoppage-time equalizer. Despite domestic dominance, Bayern’s inconsistencies in Europe raise serious concerns ahead of this clash.
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Bayer expectedly drops off. Die Werkself were almost flawless last season. They went unbeaten in all competitions, securing the club’s first-ever Bundesliga title before completing the double by winning the DFB-Pokal. However, they fell short in the Europa League, losing to Atalanta in the final. This season hasn’t been as dominant, though they started by edging Bayern on penalties to claim the German Super Cup. They also knocked their Bavarian rivals out of the DFB-Pokal and remain undefeated against them in the league. However, their grip on the Bundesliga title race has loosened slightly. In the Champions League, Xabi Alonso’s men have been strong, winning five games—including victories over Milan and Inter—with their only losses coming against Liverpool and Atlético Madrid. That was enough to secure a direct place in the Round of 16. Despite some setbacks, Bayer has maintained a competitive level and remains a serious threat in knockout football.
Being domestic rivals, these teams frequently face off. This season, they have already played three times—two league draws and a 1-0 Bayer win in the DFB-Pokal. Xabi Alonso has yet to lose to Kompany this season—expect that trend to continue with Bayer avoiding defeat once again.
Prediction for the match: Bayer Leverkusen not to lose (X2).
