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Leverkusen has never started a season so well: first place after 19 match days, still without bankruptcy – and in addition, the Werkself of coach Xabi Alonso (41) are also showing great football.
Granit Xhaka (31) played a major role in the increase. Nati’s star was named the best defensive midfielder in the Bundesliga by Kicker after the first half of the season and was used by Alonso in every match. It shows that the Swiss are established and indispensable. When he is fit, Xhaka plays.
The Nati captain is threatened with a ban
That could change on Saturday. But not for sporting reasons. Because Xhaka already has four yellow cards this season, with the fifth resulting in a suspension, if he were warned he would be suspended for the next match.
Since Leverkusen’s match against Bayern Munich is scheduled for next week, it is unlikely that Alonso will take the risk. The match against Bayern is the most important of the season so far. First against second, top billing, possibly even one that will be groundbreaking for the title fight.
A win would give Leverkusen a five-point lead; a defeat would see them drop from the rankings for the first time this season. Provided that both top teams do their job this weekend.
Xhaka’s partner is also missing
A failure by Xhaka for this game would be fatal. Especially because the leader will probably have to do without Xhaka’s sympathetic midfield partner Exequiel Palacios (25) against FCB.
Palacios – listed as second best in the “Kicker” rankings behind Xhaka and ahead of Bayern’s Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka – has been missing for two weeks with a muscle injury. The Argentinian had to miss the match against Gladbach (0-0).
Regarding the 25-year-old’s possible comeback against Bayern, Alonso said at Friday’s press conference that he could be there again “with a lot of luck”. However, the Basque did not let himself be ignored when it came to partner Xhaka and his possible bench position.
|
team
|
SP
|
T.D
|
PT
|
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
 Bayer Leverkusen
|
20
|
38
|
52
|
|
|
2
|
 Bayern Munich
|
20
|
38
|
48
|
|
|
3
|
 VfB Stuttgart
|
20
|
19
|
40
|
|
|
4
|
 Borussia Dortmund
|
20
|
14
|
37
|
|
|
5
|
 RB Leipzig
|
19
|
16
|
33
|
|
|
6
|
 Eintracht Frankfurt
|
19
|
8th
|
31
|
|
|
7
|
 Sc Freiburg
|
20
|
-7
|
28
|
|
|
8th
|
 Werder Bremen
|
20
|
-3
|
26
|
|
|
9
|
 TSG Hoffenheim
|
19
|
-2
|
25
|
|
|
10
|
 1. FC Heidenheim 1846
|
20
|
-7
|
24
|
|
|
11
|
 VfL Bochum
|
20
|
-15
|
23
|
|
|
12
|
 Borussia Monchengladbach
|
20
|
-3
|
22
|
|
|
13
|
 VfL Wolfsburg
|
19
|
-7
|
22
|
|
|
14
|
 FC Augsburg
|
20
|
-9
|
21
|
|
|
15
|
 Union Berlin
|
18
|
-14
|
17
|
|
|
16
|
 1. FC Cologne
|
19
|
-22
|
12
|
|
|
17
|
 FSV Mainz
|
19
|
-17
|
11
|
|
|
18
|
 SV Darmstadt 98
|
20
|
-27
|
11
|
Source : Blick
I’m Emma Jack, a news website author at 24 News Reporters. I have been in the industry for over five years and it has been an incredible journey so far. I specialize in sports reporting and am highly knowledgeable about the latest trends and developments in this field.
