FC Bayern vs. Bayer Leverkusen: Vulnerable Werkself and surprising Wirtz number

On the fifth matchday of the Bundesliga, the absolute top game will take place on Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m.: FC Bayern Munich hosts Bayer 04 Leverkusen. In our preview we focus primarily on the numbers.

After four games, Bayern are undefeated at the top of the table with four wins and 16 goals scored. Overall, the start to the season was successful for Bayer Leverkusen, but there were also setbacks. Leverkusen has suffered one defeat so far, scored 13 goals, but has also conceded nine goals.

The sovereignty of the previous season no longer seems to be as pronounced. After victories in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart, at Mönchengladbach and in the DFB Cup against Carl Zeiss Jena, there was a 2-3 defeat against RB Leipzig on the second Bundesliga matchday.

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This defeat was followed by two clear victories: a 4-1 in Hoffenheim and a 4-0 against Feyenoord Rotterdam. However, in the last home game against VfL Wolfsburg, Leverkusen had a difficult time and was only able to secure victory with a 4-3 score in the last few minutes.

This season, Leverkusen recorded an average volume Who scored 22.8 shots per game – a significant increase compared to last season’s 18.2. Bayern’s defense is also warned. Ball possession has also increased to 65% (comparison: 62.1% in the previous season).

However, there is a negative development when it comes to shots on their own goal: Leverkusen allows an average of 11.5 shots per game, while last season it was only 8.6. This is a significant improvement and is reflected in the goals conceded.

In terms of goals conceded, Leverkusen have already conceded six goals from open play, almost half of the total goals conceded from open play last season (there were 14). These goals are counted if a team does not score from set pieces or corners. Bayern’s playing qualities should also be a clear advantage here. The strong Olise, Gnabry and Musiala are in demand here as preparers and enforcers. When looking at the goals scored, it is noticeable that Leverkusen are very strong from set pieces: five of the thirteen goals come from set pieces. FC Bayern’s absolute attention is also required here.

With four goals, Florian Wirtz is Leverkusen’s most dangerous attacker to date. He is followed by Viktor Boniface with three goals already. Boniface has also fired the most shots in the Bundesliga so far (20 shots). fbref): The Bayern defense and of course the keeper are once again put under maximum strain here.

Wirtz is also at the top when it comes to dribbling, second only to Hugo Ekitiké from Eintracht Frankfurt with 13 successful dribbles Sofa score Second in this ranking. And Wirtz is quickly surprisingly in second place in another ranking: He has already won 51 duels this season.

Edmund Tapsoba is convincing in the defensive area, with eleven successful tackles he is in the top ten of this ranking. Granit Xhaka is still an absolute success factor in midfield. After Joshua Kimmich and Minjae Kim, Granit Xhaka is the player with the most received passes (378). He also remains extremely valuable in terms of play, already has two assists and, together with Robert Andrich, is decisive both with and against the ball.

On the wings there is the lightning-fast Jeremie Frimpong on the right (loud bundesliga.de third fastest player in the league) and Alejandro Grimaldo is a dangerous playmaker and cross-giver on the left (according to bundesliga.de, Grimaldo has the most in the Bundesliga with 18 crosses from the game so far), especially in combination play with Wirtz, things quickly become dangerous.

A larger proportion of Bayer 04’s attacks come from the left side (39%). As far as the shots are concerned, they are aimed at the opponent’s goal with a strong focus from the center (71% loud WhoScored). Like last season, Leverkusen managed to keep the ball out of their own third.

Only 21% of the game takes place there. Bayern Munich is second in this ranking with 22%. You can also prepare for a game where there will be a hard fight for the midfield. Andrich and Xhaka will face Kimmich and Pavlovic, which will probably be the decisive duel in this game.

It will also be very exciting to see how Vincent Kompany’s offensive, man-oriented pressing is used against the fast Leverkusen team and whether there is sufficient protection at the back. It is very likely that coach Xabi Alonso will rely on a strong counterattack. This is where Bayern appeared to be vulnerable at times, despite their outstanding start to the season.

The sometimes risky position changes in the Bayern game are causing some observers to worry. But Leverkusen has shown itself to be vulnerable so far, so Bayern have the opportunity to win if the quality of play remains as it has been and defensive thinking is added to the previous style of play.

FC Bayern Munich vs. Bayer 04 Leverkusen: Expected lineups

FC Bayern MunichNeuer – Guerreiro, Upamecano, M.-J. Kim, Davies – Kimmich, Pavlovic – Olise, Musiala, Gnabry – KaneBayer 04 LeverkusenHradecky – Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie – Frimpong, G. Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo – Terrier, Wirtz – Boniface

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