Bayer Leverkusen welcome Borussia Dortmund on Sunday with the hosts sitting clear atop the Bundesliga desk, having dropped simply two of a attainable 36 factors to start out the season. Though solely two factors forward of a Harry Kane-powered Bayern Munich, Leverkusen are already a whopping ten factors in entrance of Dortmund, with solely 12 matches performed. Whereas many have credited supervisor Xabi Alonso for giving Leverkusen’s long-suffering followers hope of including to a sparse trophy cupboard, a shrewd summer season recruitment drive has additionally set them up for achievement.
Utilizing the proceeds of Moussa Diaby’s sale to Aston Villa, Leverkusen introduced in striker Victor Boniface, winger Jonas Hofmann, midfielder Granit Xhaka, whereas Alex Grimaldo joined from Benfica on a free.
Alonso hailed the summer season additions’ “soccer intelligence”, telling AFP and different media in an interview “we knew they had been going to have an virtually immediate affect on our sport”.
“We have now signed very strategic gamers to provide us stability… to be extra environment friendly and constant. That provides you the chance to be extra common within the Bundesliga.”
For the reason that switch window closed, German media has reported that every of the quartet had been rejected by Dortmund in the summertime — apart from Hofmann, who had two earlier stints at Sign Iduna Park.
Criticism has grown, notably with Dortmund’s new additions Felix Nmecha, Marcel Sabitzer and Ramy Bensebaini exhibiting detached type and failing to fill the hole left by budding celebrity Jude Bellingham.
The architect of Leverkusen’s summer season switch window, sporting director Simon Rolfes, had his contract prolonged to 2028 on Tuesday, a mirrored image of the previous participant’s efforts.
Rolfes, who performed 377 instances for Leverkusen, mentioned his aspect had “gained huge high quality” and was proud to have prolonged at “a demanding, fashionable membership hungry for achievement.”
Leverkusen’s brightest star, Germany midfield maestro Florian Wirtz, was rested for Thursday’s Europa League journey to Swedish aspect BK Hacken — a mirrored image of Sunday’s significance to the league leaders.
There’s extra at stake for Dortmund than simply shedding contact with the league leaders.
Alongside RB Leipzig, who’ve received the previous two German Cups, Dortmund have been the crew almost definitely to interrupt the champions’ dominance — seemingly making Leverkusen’s beautiful emergence as ‘Bayern hunters’ much more of a problem for the guests on Sunday.
“That is essentially the most troublesome process in Germany in the mean time,” mentioned Dortmund defender Mats Hummels on Tuesday relating to the journey to Leverkusen.
“We have to stand our floor.”
One to look at: Serhou Guirassy (Stuttgart)
Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy is ready to make his first begin since October, getting back from a hamstring damage at house in opposition to Werder Bremen on Saturday.
The 27-year-old has 15 objectives in ten matches, scoring at an unimaginable strike charge of 1 aim per 46 minutes this season.
The damage didn’t cease Guirassy’s beautiful type nonetheless, with the France-born Guinea ahead coming off the bench to attain the successful penalty in opposition to Dortmund earlier in November.
In his absence, Brighton loanee Deniz Undav has stepped up, scoring six objectives in his previous six matches.
Stuttgart supervisor Sebastian Hoeness confirmed on Thursday “they’ll each be within the beginning XI in opposition to Bremen. I am trying ahead to the double-pronged assault”.
Key stats
Zero from eight: Union Berlin have by no means overwhelmed Bayern however have drawn three of eight — all with a 1-1 scoreline.
18: Harry Kane has 18 objectives from 12 league video games this season.
9 of 17: Denmark striker Jonas Wind has scored 9 of Wolfsburg’s 17 objectives this season, greater than half.
Fixtures (1430 GMT until said)
Friday
Darmstadt v Cologne (1930)
Saturday
Bochum v Wolfsburg, RB Leipzig v Heidenheim, Bayern Munich v Union Berlin, Borussia Moenchengladbach v Hoffenheim, Stuttgart v Werder Bremen (1730)
Sunday
Mainz v Freiburg, Bayer Leverkusen v Borussia Dortmund (1630), Augsburg v Eintracht Frankfurt (1830)
Matters talked about on this article
