Unbeaten Bayern And Leverkusen Leave Rivals Behind Early In Title Race

Bayern Munich face Heidenheim on Saturday as the promoted side have the uneviable task of trying to stop the momentum of the side already vying with Bayer Leverkusen for this season's Bundesliga title. Bayern and a skliful Bayer Leverkusen side coached by former Real Madrid and Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso head into the weekend as the only remaining unbeaten teams in the league. Leverkusen, who host struggling Union Berlin on Sunday, head the table with 28 of a possible 30 points, two clear of Bayern in second, with third-placed Stuttgart already five points further back.

Leverkusen only dropped points against Bayern, with the sides playing out a pulsating 2-2 draw in Munich in September.

Bayern come into their game after qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League thanks to a 2-1 win against Galatasaray on Wednesday thanks to a Harry Kane double. But the victory came at a price with the loss of forward Jamal Musiala with a hamstring injury.

Any doubts that the leading duo are a cut above were laid to rest on the past weekend, with each of the chasing pack -- Stuttgart, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig -- suffering dispiriting losses.

Stuttgart slipped to a 2-0 defeat to Heidenheim, their second-straight defeat since losing talisman Serhou Guirassy to injury.

Dortmund again received their biannual thumping by Bayern, losing 4-0 at home to tear up their unbeaten record.

German Cup holders RB Leipzig were unusually flat, going down 2-0 at last-placed Mainz, allowing the home side their first win of the season.

Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka, who joined from Arsenal in the summer, told Sportbild on Wednesday his "young side had the hunger to achieve something big" this season.

The captain of Switzerland