Bayern vs Leverkusen: Can Munich Extend the Home Dominance in a Bundesliga Showdown?

Vincent Kompany, Bayern Munich's coach, announced the starting lineup as they prepared to host Bayer Leverkusen at the Allianz Arena in the Bundesliga ninth round.

Bayern sit top of the table with 24 points from eight wins, scoring 30 and conceding 4. Leverkusen sit fifth with 17 points, five wins, two draws, one defeat, scoring 18 and conceding 11.

Team News

Both coaches revealed their starting XIs for the clash. Bayern's lineup features their usual spine, while Leverkusen's Kasper Hjulmand named his starting XI as well. Bayern's bench includes several veteran players as they seek another strong home performance.

In form terms, Bayern have won their last 10 Bundesliga games and remain unbeaten in 17 league matches under Kompany; their last away defeat came at Bochum in March (3-2).

Leverkusen, meanwhile, have not tasted defeat in seven straight Bundesliga away appearances since their opening loss to Hoffenheim.

Can Bayern end Leverkusen's long away run? Leverkusen travel with a 37-match Bundesliga away streak without defeat behind them, a record that Bayern will strive to stop at the Allianz Arena. The last time Leverkusen lost away in the league was Bochum in 2023; Bayern have won 29-2 across their last eight competitive games at home.

In head-to-head terms, Bayern and Leverkusen faced off across Bundesliga, German Cup, and Champions League last season, with Bayern claiming the better results in Europe and maintaining a strong domestic record. The latest fixture will test Bayern's home supremacy and Leverkusen's resilience.

Bayern lead the Bundesliga in average possession (64.9%), passes (671), and pass accuracy (90%). Leverkusen sit second in these metrics with 59.3% possession, 595 passes, and 88% accuracy, and both teams lead the set-piece charts as Bayern have 10 goals from set pieces and Leverkusen eight.

Outlook

Jonathan Tah’s return to the BayArena adds a sentimental edge as he helps anchor Bayern's defense after his summer move from Leverkusen, while Leverkusen will rely on their tactical discipline to challenge the hosts. Bayern’s home form, the Allianz Arena’s atmosphere, and the teams' recent runs will determine who maintains the pressure atop the table. The match promises high-quality football and a thrilling chess match between two top Bundesliga sides.

Punchline 1: If football were a stand-up club, Bayern would close every act with a 4-0 encore.

Punchline 2: Leverkusen should bring a map—they’ll need it to navigate Bayern’s goal avalanche in Munich.