All eyes are on the Bundesliga Topspiel this weekend as leaders Bayer Leverkusen host second-placed Bayern Munich, with just two points separating the two teams heading into matchday 21.
Xabi Alonso is expected to make just one change coming into this game, with Lukas Hradecky replacing Matěj Kovář in goal. The latter featured in B04’s Pokal win against Stuttgart in midweek.
Exequiel Palacios, an influential player under Alonso this season, faces a race to be fit for this game after missing Leverkusen’s last three games with a muscular injury. That means we can expect to see Granit Xhaka partner Robert Andrich in midfield again – the former is one yellow card away from a suspension.
In attack, Victor Boniface is recovering following an adductor injury and while Borja Iglesias played the full 90 minutes against Darmstadt last weekend, Patrik Schick is expected to keep his place after starting against Stuttgart on Tuesday.
Nathan Tella and Amine Adli, both of whom are in goalscoring form, remain excellent options from the bench for Alonso and Leverkusen.
Predicted Bayern Munich XI vs Bayer Leverkusen
Lukas Hradecky – Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah, Piero Hincapié – Jeremie Frimpong, Granit Xhaka, Robert Andrich, Álex Grimaldo – Jonas Hofmann, Florian Wirtz – Patrik Schick. (Kicker)
