⚽ Bundesliga 2024/25 discussion and predictions thread ⚽

[UNIVERSE]

What a shameful display it was today from Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen. Ninety minutes and not a single goal. Worse was that there was not even a shot on target for Bayern Munich

I agree that Bayern Munich played very badly but I don't think Leverkusen showed a shameful display. Leverkusen has played with an offensive strategy, they made many shot opportunities. Unfortunately, Leverkusen players failed to score a single goal. I think it is because Xabi Alonso didn't use pure strikers since the early of the match. It is a bit annoying to see Patrik Schick and Victor Boniface in the bench. Sometimes, Xabi Alonso used a strange lineup. This makes the chance for scoring goals is lower. Again and again, Xabi Alonso made a mistake in applying a proper starting lineup.

[koang]

I just watched the highlights of Leverkusen - Bayern Munich. There's no doubt Xabi Alonso's team deserved 3 points, but were just out of luck. They dominated the game in shots on goal and in terms of scoring chances created, they also had a small advantage in possession, but the results are not always fair and it's one of those cases.
Unless the highlights I watched are not a good reflection of the game, Bayern almost didn't exist. I guess you could give them some credit for effective defence and not losing a single goal, but they didn't pose any threat in the offence.
I wonder if that was a deliberate tactic by Kompany to just focus on the defence, given they already have 8 points advantage. Maybe his strategy was to keep the status quo rather than take a risk and expose themselves to the possibility of a loss. I don't know. But, as I said before, 8 points might be impossible for Leverkusen to catch up.

I agree, Kompany prioritizes not losing over winning the game to maintain a lead in the table, That is cowardly football at its best. This is a journey from genius to madness. lol
It's finally clear that at Bayern no coach is the problem, The management just needs to clean up and sign some hungry players who have not yet achieved success.

[Agbe]

What a shameful display it was today from Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen. Ninety minutes and not a single goal. Worse was that there was not even a shot on target for Bayern Munich

I agree that Bayern Munich played very badly but I don't think Leverkusen showed a shameful display. Leverkusen has played with an offensive strategy, they made many shot opportunities. Unfortunately, Leverkusen players failed to score a single goal. I think it is because Xabi Alonso didn't use pure strikers since the early of the match. It is a bit annoying to see Patrik Schick and Victor Boniface in the bench. Sometimes, Xabi Alonso used a strange lineup. This makes the chance for scoring goals is lower. Again and again, Xabi Alonso made a mistake in applying a proper starting lineup.

Leverkusen problem this season has been goal scoring because they have been playing well but finishing has been the problem no thanks to their strikers boniface their wonder striker has been struggling with injuries and form that is why Madrid has been leading the bundesliga table with these plenty points if not I don't personally see what bayern munich is playing because with all due respect to bayern they have been playing badly this season this bayern team is one of the worst bayern teams I have seen in recent times
Xabi Alonso should have bring in one or two quality strikers in the just closed January transfer window to complement the striking force because with the way things are this season Leverkusen firing power can't match up with that of bayern munich

[pawel7777]

Easy game, it was not, but Bayern managed to score a late equaliser and drew with Celtic 1-1 in the second leg of the Champions League playoffs. Given they defeated Celtic 2-1 in the first leg, they are going through to the final 16.
What's interesting, in the round of 16 they will face either Atletico Madrid or... Baer Leverkusen. I have a strong feeling it will be the latter. We'll have to wait till tomorrow though.
If Leverkusen is not matched with Bayern, they will be playing against Real Madrid, so no easy options for them.

[$crypto$]

Easy game, it was not, but Bayern managed to score a late equaliser and drew with Celtic 1-1 in the second leg of the Champions League playoffs. Given they defeated Celtic 2-1 in the first leg, they are going through to the final 16.
What's interesting, in the round of 16 they will face either Atletico Madrid or... Baer Leverkusen. I have a strong feeling it will be the latter. We'll have to wait till tomorrow though.
If Leverkusen is not matched with Bayern, they will be playing against Real Madrid, so no easy options for them.

I have to appreciate Celtic in this match, because they really could give a fierce resistance to Bayern Munich. Although the home team dominated the game, they almost managed to trouble and force Bayern Munich to play extra in the extra round.

I can't say it was lucky for Bayern Munich with the goal they scored at the end, because statistically their game was also good.

[koang]

Easy game, it was not, but Bayern managed to score a late equaliser and drew with Celtic 1-1 in the second leg of the Champions League playoffs. Given they defeated Celtic 2-1 in the first leg, they are going through to the final 16.
What's interesting, in the round of 16 they will face either Atletico Madrid or... Baer Leverkusen. I have a strong feeling it will be the latter. We'll have to wait till tomorrow though.
If Leverkusen is not matched with Bayern, they will be playing against Real Madrid, so no easy options for them.

I have to appreciate Celtic in this match, because they really could give a fierce resistance to Bayern Munich. Although the home team dominated the game, they almost managed to trouble and force Bayern Munich to play extra in the extra round.

I can't say it was lucky for Bayern Munich with the goal they scored at the end, because statistically their game was also good.

Agreed. I was impressed with Celtic's performance. Celtic were the best team in the two matches...
Bayern almost did not qualify for the next round against a club playing in the Scottish league. lol
Bayern couldn't do what was expected of them on the pitch, and what should be normal for FC Bayern Munich and it was a shame when Bayern celebrated.

[pawel7777]

Agreed. I was impressed with Celtic's performance. Celtic were the best team in the two matches...
Bayern almost did not qualify for the next round against a club playing in the Scottish league. lol
Bayern couldn't do what was expected of them on the pitch, and what should be normal for FC Bayern Munich and it was a shame when Bayern celebrated.

I haven't watched the whole game, only the highlights, but Bayern looked a bit pale. The statistics are all there and judging by them, it looked like Bayern had total control over the game, but I think Celtic was the team that could create better chances and with a bit of luck, they could've won that game.
Bayern has had incredible statistic of goals per game ratio at the beginning of the season, but it seems they're slowing down a bit. Maybe it's their style is effective against weak teams, but when they face tougher opponents something doesn't work as it should.
But, to their credit, they are still at the top of the league and only a disaster can stop them from winning it, and they got through to the round of 16 of UCL, so, despite occasional disappointments, they must be doing something right.

[Agbe]

Today in the German bundesliga Freiburg which is in 5th place play host to werder Bremen this game will be an exciting game because Freiburg will look to extend their winning streak as they are in a winning row of three matches which brem has not won in their last two games so they will like to come back to winning ways in this game. A win for Freiburg will see them move up to 4th on the table which will place them on the champions League spot on the table this game surprised to be a cracker because i see Bremen giving Freiburg a good run for their money

[pawel7777]

It was a walk in the park for Freiburg yesterday. They destroyed Werder 5-0 and are now occupying 4th place which would grant them participation in the Champions League if they managed to keep it till the end of the season, but I doubt they will.

Fixtures and odds (by DuelBits) for all the remaining games in this round:

FSV Mainz 05 x1.77 Vs FC St Pauli x4.75; Draw x3.60
Borussia Mönchengladbach x1.90 Vs FC Augsburg x4.00; Draw x3.66
Holstein Kiel x12.00 Vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen x1.23; Draw x6.50
VfL Wolfsburg x1.58 Vs VfL Bochum 1848 x5.33; Draw x4.33
Borussia Dortmund x1.41 Vs 1. FC Union Berlin x7.50; Draw x4.75
RB Leipzig x1.33 Vs 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 x8.50; Draw x5.50
Bayern München x1.32 Vs Eintracht Frankfurt x8.00; Draw x6.00
TSG Hoffenheim x3.50 Vs VfB Stuttgart x1.94; Draw x4.00

The most interesting one is, of course, Bayern taking on 3rd Eintracht. Bookies expect it to be an easy win for Bayern, but Eintracht might surprise and steal some points. They are 3rd in the table for a reason and they've been undefeated in the Bundesliga in the last 7 games.

[$crypto$]

I have to appreciate Celtic in this match, because they really could give a fierce resistance to Bayern Munich. Although the home team dominated the game, they almost managed to trouble and force Bayern Munich to play extra in the extra round.

I can't say it was lucky for Bayern Munich with the goal they scored at the end, because statistically their game was also good.

Agreed. I was impressed with Celtic's performance. Celtic were the best team in the two matches...
Bayern almost did not qualify for the next round against a club playing in the Scottish league. lol
Bayern couldn't do what was expected of them on the pitch, and what should be normal for FC Bayern Munich and it was a shame when Bayern celebrated.

Yes, it seems that I'm not the only one who feels that way, despite their defeat so that they couldn't qualify, but in terms of their game they were good. maybe even if it wasn't Bayern Munich who was their opponent in this match, then they would have been able to win and qualify for the round of 16.

Now Bayern Munich can be a little calm, but they have to quickly prepare themselves to face their opponent in the round of 16 which is not easy. Btw they will face Leverkusen.

[LUCKMCFLY]

Bayern has had incredible statistic of goals per game ratio at the beginning of the season, but it seems they're slowing down a bit. Maybe it's their style is effective against weak teams, but when they face tougher opponents something doesn't work as it should.
But, to their credit, they are still at the top of the league and only a disaster can stop them from winning it, and they got through to the round of 16 of UCL, so, despite occasional disappointments, they must be doing something right.

Criticism will always appear for every half, it is a fact that in the UCL against Celtic for me they were too lucky to score the Winning goal in the last 20 seconds, so this generated as a consequence that things were more dramatic, in the Bundesliga they are doing well, the team that can bring them down from the cloud is undoubtedly Leverkusen , and this is difficult to happen but it is possible, for me it is well deserved given the position they have Both in the Bundesliga and in the UCL.

[Agbe]

Leverkusen got a vital away win as they defeated holstein Kiel by 0:2 this win is a good way to bounce back as they have not been getting good results especially away from home Leverkusen has really gone behind Bayarn Munich by plenty points and this win is a good way of bouncing back to form and reducing the points difference knowing that bayern munich has too has not been that fantastic with their performance like that. I believe that the title race is not over yet because if there is any thing that I like about Leverkusen is their not giving up spirit so I see Leverkusen fighting to the last week of the season

[koang]

Leverkusen got a vital away win as they defeated holstein Kiel by 0:2 this win is a good way to bounce back as they have not been getting good results especially away from home Leverkusen has really gone behind Bayarn Munich by plenty points and this win is a good way of bouncing back to form and reducing the points difference knowing that bayern munich has too has not been that fantastic with their performance like that. I believe that the title race is not over yet because if there is any thing that I like about Leverkusen is their not giving up spirit so I see Leverkusen fighting to the last week of the season

Yep. Leverkusen took home three points from Holstein Kiel, a good win, and a clean sheet. This didn't surprise me given the quality of the players on this team, it was inevitable that Leverkusen would score. However, I must commend the team for the way they worked and fought as a team.
It's a great comeback from Amine Adli and another record in the Xabi books. Xabi Alonso is the first Bundesliga manager to go unbeaten in 28 consecutive away games.

[pieppiep]

Leverkusen got a vital away win as they defeated holstein Kiel by 0:2 this win is a good way to bounce back as they have not been getting good results especially away from home Leverkusen has really gone behind Bayarn Munich by plenty points and this win is a good way of bouncing back to form and reducing the points difference knowing that bayern munich has too has not been that fantastic with their performance like that. I believe that the title race is not over yet because if there is any thing that I like about Leverkusen is their not giving up spirit so I see Leverkusen fighting to the last week of the season

Yep. Leverkusen took home three points from Holstein Kiel, a good win, and a clean sheet. This didn't surprise me given the quality of the players on this team, it was inevitable that Leverkusen would score. However, I must commend the team for the way they worked and fought as a team.
It's a great comeback from Amine Adli and another record in the Xabi books. Xabi Alonso is the first Bundesliga manager to go unbeaten in 28 consecutive away games.

Yes, Leverkusen once again proved the high level of the team by having an obvious victory in the match and remarkable teamwork. The ability to maintain a clean sheet also corresponds with the fact that they are hardy in every line of play. Xabi Alonso’s records clearly show that under his lead, this team has transformed into a rather Impregnable team or force. For me it is not only matching the goals but the manner in which they play organised and with great regularity is what I know deserves praise. Amine Adli also brings more positive attitude for the team and his return must be considered a positive aspect. Such performances give further clue of their intent in the current season and it will be good to know how far they can go.

[ajiz138]

Leverkusen got a vital away win as they defeated holstein Kiel by 0:2 this win is a good way to bounce back as they have not been getting good results especially away from home Leverkusen has really gone behind Bayarn Munich by plenty points and this win is a good way of bouncing back to form and reducing the points difference knowing that bayern munich has too has not been that fantastic with their performance like that. I believe that the title race is not over yet because if there is any thing that I like about Leverkusen is their not giving up spirit so I see Leverkusen fighting to the last week of the season

This result is good for them, at least they can keep the distance with Bayern Munich from widening further. But still it is a difficult distance to catch up.

5 points is their distance now, at least before Bayern Munich plays their match this week. Looking at the opponent they will face, it is actually quite difficult for Bayern Munich, because their opponent is also in good condition.