Bayern, now under manager Vincent Kompany, have made a strong start this season, sitting at the top of the table with 12 points from four matches. Leverkusen is close behind in second place with nine points, having won three of their first four games.
Any doubts about Kompany's ability to compete for the title in his debut season appear to have been put to rest after Bayern's impressive start to the 2024-25 campaign.
They've won all six of their competitive matches, including a commanding 5-0 victory over Werder Bremen last time out on September 21. Michael Olise starred in that match with two goals and two assists, while Harry Kane maintained his excellent form, scoring once and assisting twice.
In a previous match against Dinamo Zagreb, Bayern showcased their offensive power with a staggering 9-2 win, where Kane netted four goals and became the all-time leading English scorer in Champions League history.
Interestingly, while Bayern leads the league with 16 goals, this figure is significantly higher than their expected goals, suggesting they've had a bit of good fortune. They’ve created the fourth most big chances in the Bundesliga.
On the other hand, Bayer Leverkusen has had a mixed season. They’ve won six of their seven competitive matches but have also conceded 11 goals. Their most recent game saw them edge out Wolfsburg 3-2, thanks to a last-minute winner from Victor Boniface.
Last season, Leverkusen averaged 0.71 goals conceded per game in the Bundesliga, but this season that number has jumped to 2.25. Midfielder Granit Xhaka attributed the defensive struggles not to a systemic issue but rather to a lack of aggression and allowing too much space for opponents. Manager Xabi Alonso echoed this sentiment, noting that their play has been too chaotic both defensively and offensively.
Despite these challenges, Leverkusen comes into this match in strong form, boasting a record of 31 wins, six draws, and just one loss in their last 38 league games, as well as 16 wins and three draws from their last 19 away matches.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Bayern Munich will be missing defenders Hiroki Ito and Josip Stanisic until October and November, respectively, while right-back Sacha Boey won't return until December. Forward Arijon Ibrahimovic is expected back early next month, and goalkeeper Daniel Peretz will likely be unavailable for a few more days.
Manuel Neuer is poised to take back his starting role in goal, likely backed by a defense featuring Konrad Laimer, Dayot Upamecano, Kim Min-jae, and Alphonso Davies.
In midfield, Joshua Kimmich has been playing alongside Aleksandar Pavlovic for the past two games, and manager Vincent Kompany may choose to keep that partnership intact rather than introduce a new player.
On the other hand, Bayer Leverkusen has no injury issues and manager Xabi Alonso will have a full squad to choose from. Granit Xhaka is sure to start in midfield, but given the team's recent defensive struggles, it's possible Aleix Garcia might be replaced by Exequiel Palacios.
Wing-back Jeremie Frimpong and striker Victor Boniface are also set to return to the starting lineup, taking over from Nordi Mukiele and Patrik Schick, respectively. Florian Wirtz, who has scored four goals in his last three matches, will be a key player for Leverkusen as Alonso looks to maintain his strong form.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, Kim, Davies; Kimmich, Pavlovic; Olise, Musiala, Gnabry; Kane
Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:
Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Palacios, Xhaka, Grimaldo; Terrier, Wirtz; Boniface
EXPERT PREDICTION
Bayern Munich 3-2 Bayer Leverkusen
Bayern Munich has been outstanding in attack this season, and considering Leverkusen's defensive weaknesses, they could very well create plenty of goal-scoring chances.
While Alonso's team has been solid offensively, featuring players like Wirtz and Boniface, it's hard to envision them securing a win if Bayern performs as strongly as they have in recent weeks.
