Bayer Leverkusen Plan 'Perfect Day' To Derail Bayern Munich's Bundesliga Title Push

Defending champions Bayer Leverkusen host Bayern Munich on Saturday needing a "perfect day" to defeat the Bavarian giants and keep the Bundesliga title race alive. Bayern come to Leverkusen with an eight-point lead at the top of the table. Both sides have only lost once in the league this season but Leverkusen have been let down by their inability to win close games, with seven draws compared to Bayern's three. Stung by failing to win a title last year, Vincent Kompany's Bayern are in ominous form, having won seven league games in a row.

A win, or even a draw on Saturday for Bayern, will deal a likely fatal blow to Leverkusen's hopes of winning back-to-back titles.

However, Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso's record against Bayern will give the hosts hope.

Since taking over Leverkusen in October 2022, Alonso has won three and drawn two of five games against Bayern.

The most recent of those victories came in December, when Leverkusen eliminated Bayern from the German Cup in Munich after home captain Manuel Neuer saw red for the first time in his career.

In an interview with the Bundesliga website on Thursday, Leverkusen talisman Granit Xhaka backed his side.

"We can make it difficult for anyone, including Bayern Munich, we need a perfect day to beat this team, but I'm convinced we can do this," he said.

"We won't play for a draw, we want to win every game, whether that's against Bayern on Saturday, or against any other team.

"Everything is still in our hands, we'll keep going, keep believing, and try and win the next games."

Unlike Bayern, who battled to a 2-1 victory at Celtic in the Champions League play-offs on Wednesday, Leverkusen could put their feet up in midweek, having finished in the top eight of the competition.

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