Repeating the image of Bayer Leverkusen with the Bundesliga champion’s cup could have been considered impossible just a few weeks ago. At the conclusion of matchday 11, Xabi Alonso’s team was fourth in the standings and ahead of them were RB Leipzig, Eintratch Frankfurt and, above all, Bayern Munich. A season that has completely changed in a matter of five games and at the conclusion of matchday 16 the story is very different.
An unbeatable streak
Repeating things should not be a trend, but five games have passed for the Bundesliga to turn around. Bayer Leverkusen’s streak of three consecutive draws against Werder Bremen, Stuttgart and Bochum seemed to distance the aspirin team from the lead. A streak in which they were going to lose six points and from which they are now almost recovered. And in the last five games the San Sebastian players have been able to add five victories. A full performance that has put them at full capacity and that has led them to cut up to five points with Bayern Munich.
Now the drawing is very different. Bayern Munich suffered yesterday to achieve a victory against Borussia Mönchengladbach. A solitary goal from Harry Kane from the penalty spot prevented Vicent Kompany’s team from continuing to lose points. A scare that shows that the team is not going through its best moment and that its January struggle began more in December. In fact, since the comfortable victory against Augsburg (3-0) on November 22, which was matchday 11, the team has only achieved three wins, one draw and one defeat. Some numbers that make them begin to feel the pressure that the current champion is exerting in his attempt to revalidate the title.
When you create as many chances as we created today, you want to score more goals and decide the game
Vicent Kompany, coach of Bayern Munich
The Bundesliga tightens in January
“It was a very difficult game away from home and the first after the break. When you create as many chances as we created today, you want to score 1, 2 or 3 more goals and decide the game. But we didn’t do it,” said Vicent Kompany in the press room after his agonizing victory. A few words that demonstrate the pressure of having to win every game to not give up against their greatest rival in recent years. And the fact is that both of their calendars are not at all simple.
In the coming weeks, in the Bundesliga alone, Bayern Munich must host Hoffenheim, Wolfburg, Kiel and Werder Bremen, in addition to visiting the Freiburg stadium. While Bayer Leverkusen will have a more complicated schedule where they will host a Mainz team on a roll, as well as Borussia Mönchengladbach and Hoffenheim, with a visit to the field of RB Leipzig and Wolfsburg included. Five games where things could get tighter until February 15 where both teams will meet again at the BayArena in Leverkusen and where there could be a revenge after Bayern’s elimination from the DFB Pokal at the hands of Bayer itself.
