The best Bundesliga runners-up of all time take on the leaders - or rather: on Saturday evening, Bayern are aiming to head back to the top of the Bundesliga with a win in the matchday's standout fixture at Bayer Leverkusen. The two giants are setting new benchmarks this season: the Werkself (52) and the Reds (50) have a combined total of 102 points, the most ever achieved by two teams after 20 games in the German top flight. fcbayern.com has compiled a list of all the other key statistics relating to the match for you.
History favours the Reds
Bayern and Leverkusen drew 2-2 in the hard-fought reverse fixture in mid-September.
This Saturday will be the 90th time that Bayer have played Bayern in the Bundesliga. The men from Munich have come out on top in more than half of the previous encounters (52), while the Rhinelanders have won just 19 (18 draws). However, in the two most recent meetings - meaning since former Bayern player Xabi Alonso has been in the dugout at Leverkusen - the Werkself are undefeated (one win, one draw). Bayern now intend to put that right.
League leaders not necessarily favourites
Who are the big game experts? That's the question ahead of the Bundesliga showdown. According to the stats, Bayern have the edge: the record champions have lost just one of their last six Bundesliga clashes against league leaders (three wins, two draws) - a 2-1 defeat at Borussia Mönchengladbach in December 2019. These six matches also include the 2-1 win in Leverkusen in December 2020, which sent FCB to the top of the table before Christmas. The Werkself, on the other hand, have never won against the runners-up in four attempts as league leaders (two draws, two defeats). Their opponents in these games were Bayern three times and Hamburger SV once.
In December 2020, FC Bayern became league leaders after the top-of-the-table clash in Leverkusen.
Best defence vs. best attack
Thomas Tuchel's side have the best attack of this Bundesliga campaign with 59 goals after 20 games, a record only Bayern themselves previously surpassed in the 2021/22 season (65). In second place are Leverkusen, who have set a club record at this stage in the season with 52 goals. In terms of defence, however, the Werkself lead the way with 14 goals conceded and ten clean sheets, while Bayern are in second place in both categories with 19 goals conceded and nine clean sheets. A similar picture emerges in terms of shots on goal: FCB have fired off the most (401), while Bayer have allowed the fewest (173).
Kane loves records
Harry Kane scored his 24th league goal in the recent 3-1 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach. Only Robert Lewandowski in 2020/21 has previously matched this total in the first 20 matchdays. In the history of the competition, only Uwe Seeler scored more times in his maiden Bundesliga season (30 in 1963/64) than the England captain.
Harry Kane scored his 24th goal of the season in the Bundesliga in the 3-1 win against Mönchengladbach.
Top providers go head-to-head
The top provider in the German top flight this season is Leroy Sané with 11 assists, while Leverkusen's Alejandro Grimaldo is second best with nine. Both players set up a goal for one of their teammates on the last matchday.
Goretzka knows how it's done
Leon Goretzka certainly appears to enjoy playing against his upcoming opponents. In 17 clashes with the Werkself, he's been directly involved in 11 goals (five goals, six assists) - more than against any other team in the Bundesliga. In the first half of the season, he scored to give the record champions a 2-1 lead.
Leon Goretzka gave Bayern a 2-1 lead against Leverkusen in the reverse fixture - unfortunately his joy didn't last until the end of the game.
Leverkusen on a roll
Bayer Leverkusen are only the fourth team in Bundesliga history to remain undefeated in their first 20 games of the season: previously, only Bayern (1988/89 and 2013/14) and the Werkself themselves in the 2009/10 season achieved this feat, although back then Leverkusen only managed a fourth-place finish under coach Jupp Heynckes.
There was some good news on the injury front ahead of the top-of-the-table clash:
Topics of this article