DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) — Bayern Munich is heading to Bayern Leverkusen in the Bundesliga after contrasting Champions League games in midweek for the two clubs.
Bayern was in rampant form in a 6-1 win at Atalanta overshadowed by injuries in the first leg of their round-of-16 matchup, while Leverkusen had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Premier League leader Arsenal which kept its hopes alive. Bayern leads the Bundesliga by 11 points with nine games remaining.
Key matchups
There aren’t many tricky away trips for Bayern in the Bundesliga these days, but Leverkusen is one of them. Bayern hasn’t won there in the league since October 2021, though Vincent Kompany’s team did get a victory in a Champions League playoff last year.
Hoffenheim is flying high in third, which would be its best finish since Julian Nagelsmann coached the team in 2017-18. Saturday’s opponent Wolfsburg is having a nightmarish campaign in the relegation zone as Dieter Hecking becomes the team’s third coach of the season.
In a tight Champions League qualification fight, fourth-placed Stuttgart is unbeaten in four Bundesliga games as it takes on fifth-place Leipzig, which is unbeaten in five, on Sunday.
Players to watch
Deniz Undav has scored in his last four Bundesliga games to take him to 15 goals for the season. Even if he’s got half of Harry Kane’s tally of Bundesliga goals for Bayern, it’s enough for second in the standings. Undav’s run of form could help him make his case for a return to the Germany squad in time for the World Cup.
Nico Schlotterbeck could be one of the most in-demand defenders on the transfer market this off-season, with no obvious progress on renewing a Borussia Dortmund contract which expires next year, though a decision to let midfielder Julian Brandt leave might free up some funds. Dortmund plays Augsburg on Sunday.
Who’s out
Manuel Neuer’s return from a calf injury lasted just 45 minutes last week before the Bayern goalkeeping great picked up another calf injury which kept him out of Tuesday’s Champions League win at Atalanta. Jonas Urbig stepped in but was hurt in a heavy collision with an opponent, so third-choice Sven Ulreich may start.
Kane has missed two games with a calf issue but is set to return, though Alphonso Davies has pulled a hamstring and Bayern said Jamal Musiala was experiencing pain related to an ankle injury from last year. It wasn’t immediately clear how seriously that would affect Musiala.
Off the field
Two bizarre disciplinary cases are getting German fans talking. The national soccer federation is investigating Cologne for its announcer making comments over the PA system loudly condemning refereeing decisions that went against the team.
Second-division Preussen Muenster faces a disciplinary case over a masked fan who unplugged the referee’s video monitor during a penalty review against the team.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
