Bayern excited for top-of-the-table Bundesliga clash away at Bayer Leverkusen

Bayern are away at Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday for a top-of-the-table Bundesliga clash that will be watched with great interest in Germany and around the world (kick-off at 6.30pm CET, live coverage on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app with our text commentary and free web radio). It’s a Matchday 22 fixture that pits the defending champions up against the record champions and current league leaders. Here’s all you need to know about the game in our preview.

Check out the best photos from final training on Friday:

Latest news from Bayern

Bayern go into this clash of first against second with wind in their sails following Wednesday’s 2-1 victory at Celtic Park in the first leg of their Champions League knockout play-off tie. That made it five competitive wins on the spin for Vincent Kompany’s men, while it’s seven straight victories in the Bundesliga. That run has helped the Bavarians build a lead of eight points over Leverkusen and the chance to make that a seemingly unsurmountable 11 on Saturday.

“We’re going there with an eight-point lead. That gives us a good feeling. It’s a great game that we’re looking forward to,” said board member for sport Max Eberl at Friday’s pre-match press conference. “We said that we’re excited about this period. We’ve started well and want to keep that going,” Kompany added of Bayern’s intense run of fixtures in February. “We have the goal of winning again, but it won’t be easy.”

Read more from Kompany and Eberl’s press conference:

Opponent: Bayer Leverkusen

After being crowned champions for the first time in their history, Leverkusen have mostly looked good again this season. Their haul of 46 points from 21 games is the second best they’ve managed in the top flight, after last term’s total of 55. However, the Werkself have been held in two of their last three league outings, drawing 2-2 at RB Leipzig and 0-0 in Wolfsburg last weekend.

However, Bayern know they face a seriously tough away game. “Leverkusen have shown they can go for a full press when needed but also defend deep. We need to be prepared for both and want to be a danger to the opposition in all phases of the game,” Kompany stated. Xabi Alonso’s defending champions have won each of their last nine home fixtures across all competitions, while Bayern are winless in their last five against the Werkself. Those numbers need to change this Saturday.

Read up on the facts ahead of the game:

Team news

Bayern remain without Daniel Peretz (kidney), Alphonso Davies (hamstring) and João Palhinha (ill) for this second away game of the week. However, Davies and Palhinha were both able to take some part in training again on Friday. Hiroki Ito made his long-awaited competitive debut for Bayern against Celtic on Wednesday following injury problems.

Leverkusen are missing long-term absentees Jeanuel Belocian (knee) and Martin Terrier (Achilles tendon), while Mario Hermoso also misses out with illness.

What the coaches say