Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich
Germany’s top two sides clashing in the Champions League for the first ever time was a tie much of the country was talking about. Then it happened!
And it was over almost before it began.
Because make no mistake, last week’s first leg in Bavaria highlighted just what a magnificent achievement Bayer Leverkusen managed last term.
The German champions were, as far as this SBOTOP writer is concerned, the team of the year of 2024 in world football.
To put Leverkusen’s 2024 into context, just one league defeat all year and a league and cup double as Xabi Alonso’s side finished 17 points clear of runners-up Stuttgart after recording 28 wins and six draws to become the first Bundesliga side to go through an entire campaign unbeaten.
They also reached the final of the Europa League.
How could they match that? The answer, quite simply, is they couldn’t!
Talking Points
That is not to imply any criticism of Xabi Alonso or his players this term.
Before last week’s first leg, Leverkusen were in the midst of a six-game unbeaten streak against Bayern, including knocking them out of the German Cup before Christmas.
They have also lost only once this season domestically, even though they are eight points off the Bundesliga summit.
But there you have it.
Despite achieving something very special, they have simply not been able to hold off Bayern who flexed their financial muscles in the summer to strengthen and make sure their ‘annus horribilis’ was not repeated.
The Champions League 2025 highlights they produced to open up a 3-0 first leg lead was proof of the difference these two clubs operate at.
Yes, as Alonso acknowledged, some of Leverkusen’s failings in Munich on Wednesday night were self-inflicted but, quite frankly, Bayern were just smarter, positionally disciplined and physically dominant.
They certainly have one foot in the quarter-finals after a Harry Kane double helped them to a comfortable win.
The England captain gave the hosts an early breakthrough in the all-German meeting before Jamal Musiala doubled their lead by capitalising on a mistake from Leverkusen goalkeeper Matej Kovar.
The visitors went down to 10 men after a second yellow for Nordi Mukiele just past the hour mark, then Kane scored his 31st goal of the season from the penalty spot to seal the victory.
Kane’s nine-goal haul is the most by an English player in a single Champions League campaign and the joint-most in a European Cup campaign alongside Dennis Viollet, who scored nine goals for Manchester United in 1956-57.
The 31 year-old also has nine goals in the Champions League knockout stages, with Frank Lampard (15) and Wayne Rooney (14) the only Englishmen ahead of him in that regard.
He has now scored more goals across all competitions than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues since he joined Bayern (75).
Only Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski (34 goals) has scored more for a club in Europe’s big five leagues this season than Kane, the £100 million frontman bought for a fee Leverkusen simply cannot match.
The decision to leave Patrik Schick and Victor Boniface on the bench and play without a recognised striker left the German champions without an outlet on the few occasions.
But Vincent Kompany’s side, who were surprisingly pushed hard by Celtic in the play-offs, are cruising to the Bundesliga title and now they are cruising into the Champions League quarter-finals too.
The second leg will not disrupt that momentum.
The fact a number of Euro giants lost three times in the new-fangled group stages (Bayern amongst them) and still qualified was exactly what was always going to happen.
Their superior resources means the established order almost always prevails in the end.
History
Last week’s first leg was the clubs’ first European meeting.
They have faced each other in 92 Bundesliga games, most recently on 15 February – a 0-0 draw in Leverkusen.
Their first game this season ended in a 1-1 draw in Munich in September when Robert Andrich’s opener was quickly cancelled out by Aleksandar Pavlovic.
Bayern have 52 wins in their 92 Bundesliga fixtures against Leverkusen, who have managed 20 victories.
The teams have met eight times in the German Cup, most recently in December when Leverkusen substitute Nathan Tella scored the only goal in a last-16 meeting in Munich.
That was only Leverkusen’s second knockout victory against Bayern, who have seven victories.
Betting Tip
The Champions League 2025 betting odds tip Bayern, understandably, and they can be backed 1X2 @ 2.38 and Asian Handicap -0.25 @ 2.14.
Leverkusen are actually closely matched, including 1X2 @ 2.61 and Asian Handicap 0.00 @ 2.04, but there is little expectation of them overturning a three-goal deficit.
My ** tip is total goal 2-3 @ 2.04 and Bayern will get at least one of them to confirm their progress to the last eight.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
