Bayer Leverkusen vs. Bayern Munich – News and Probable Lineups

Bayer Leverkusen faces a critical challenge as they aim to overcome Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich at the Bay Arena this Saturday if they aspire to secure a Champions League spot.

Currently sitting sixth with 44 points, the Black and Reds risk falling six points behind Stuttgart, who occupy fourth place by the conclusion of matchweek 26. Defeating the Bavarians will be a daunting task, given their impressive tally of 66 points, which puts them 11 ahead of second-placed Borussia Dortmund going into the weekend.

Match overview

Leverkusen has only managed to gather five points from their last 12 available in the Bundesliga, recently drawing 3-3 with Freiburg on March 7, conceding the same number of goals as they did in their previous five league matches.

Die Werkself played against Arsenal on Wednesday in the Champions League, where they managed to hold the Premier League leaders to a 1-1 draw, although they were unlucky not to gain a first-leg advantage after breaking through the Gunners’ defense multiple times.

This draw marked their third consecutive home match that ended in a stalemate, with two of these draws occurring in European competitions. Nevertheless, it extended their unbeaten run at the Bay Arena to seven games, during which they have secured four victories.

Head coach Kasper Hjulmand has now witnessed four draws, one defeat, and a single win in his last six fixtures at the helm, although his squad remains strong with only one loss in the last 13 matches.

While they’ve netted six times in their last five outings, three of those goals came against Freiburg, and in two instances, they were unable to find the net.

Bayern enters the weekend’s fixture following an impressive 6-1 victory against Atalanta in their Champions League round of 16 first leg, which should boost their confidence.

This triumph has extended their unbeaten streak on the road to ten matches, with nine of these being victories.

The win over Atalanta was their seventh consecutive triumph across all competitions, and the team has netted 19 goals in their last five fixtures.

However, Bayern has conceded ten goals in their last seven league games, managing just one clean sheet during that stretch.

Domestically, Bayern has also been prolific in attack, exemplified by their 4-1 win against Borussia Monchengladbach on March 6, which marked the 20th occasion in 25 league matches where they scored at least three goals.

Manager Vincent Kompany’s squad triumphed over Leverkusen 3-0 in their previous Bundesliga encounter in November 2025, marking their third consecutive victory against the hosts.

Team News

Leverkusen’s striker, Christian Michel Kofane, showcased an impressive performance against Arsenal, and his ability to challenge center-backs will be crucial on Saturday, particularly as it could create opportunities for forwards Ibrahim Maza and Martin Terrier.

Midfielder Robert Andrich’s precision in passing will be vital in deeper positions, especially given the injury to center-back Loic Bade, possibly lining him up in a three-man defense alongside Jarell Quansah and Edmond Tapsoba.

With left wing-back Alex Grimaldo serving a suspension, Hjulmand might have no choice but to include Ernest Poku in the starting eleven, while Jonas Hofmann is expected to occupy the opposite flank.

Bayern’s left-back Alphonso Davies sustained another injury during the match against Atalanta, leaving him visibly distraught as he exited the field.

Josip Stanisic will step in for him on Saturday, joining a back four that also consists of Konrad Laimer, Dayot Upamecano, and Jonathan Tah.

Striker Harry Kane was not included in the starting XI against Atalanta, but he is set to return to the lineup over the weekend, playing ahead of wingers Michael Olise and Luis Diaz.

Bayer Leverkusen probable starting XI:

Blaswich; Quansah, Andrich, Tapsoba; Hofmann, Fernandez, Garcia, Poku; Terrier, Maza; Kofane

Bayern Munich probable starting XI:

Ulreich; Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Stanisic; Kimmich, Pavlovic; Olise, Gnabry, Diaz; Kane