German giants Bayern Munich are irritated by options they’re the outsiders of their high-stakes Champions League final 16 tie towards Bayer Leverkusen.
Bayern host Xabi Alonso’s defending German champions in Munich on Wednesday, with the return leg the next Tuesday in Leverkusen.
With assets and historical past that dwarf anybody else in Germany, Bayern are nearly all the time the favourites when taking over different German groups, no matter venue or competitors.
However pundits and bookmakers alike have tipped Leverkusen to make it by to the quarter finals, elevating the ire of the Bavarians, significantly with Munich internet hosting this 12 months’s remaining.
Since showing in back-to-back finals in 2012 and 2013, Bayern have solely as soon as did not make it previous the final 16 stage in 13 seasons — after they misplaced to Jurgen Klopp’s eventual champions Liverpool.
Bayern powerbroker Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who alongside Uli Hoeness grew the membership right into a European powerhouse, mentioned his workforce felt slighted and would react.
“Everybody has declared Bayer Leverkusen the favorite. I do know our workforce — and it pisses them off.”
– ‘Absolute underdogs’ –
In six matches towards Bayern since he took over as Leverkusen supervisor in October 2022, Xabi Alonso has by no means misplaced, with three attracts and three victories.
In three seasons in midfield for Bayern, Alonso by no means misplaced towards Leverkusen in six matches — a exceptional document within the fixture each as a participant and a coach.
In December, defending German Cup champions Leverkusen eradicated Bayern from the competitors with a 1-0 win in Munich.
In that match, Bayern captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer picked up the primary pink card of his lengthy profession after a rash, rugby-style problem on Jeremie Frimpong outdoors the field.
The collision, which left Neuer with a damaged rib, advised Leverkusen had gotten underneath Bayern’s pores and skin.
In the latest encounter between the 2 golf equipment, in February in Leverkusen, Bayern have been totally outplayed, failing to register a shot heading in the right direction for simply the second time in a league sport since 1992.
The match nonetheless completed in a scoreless draw which saved Bayern’s eight-point lead atop the desk and on monitor to win again the Bundesliga, suggesting the usually dominant Bayern will be pragmatic when mandatory underneath coach Vincent Kompany.
Veteran midfielder Thomas Mueller, a two-time Champions League winner with Bayern, advised these tipping Leverkusen to dump his facet out of the event weren’t seeing the complete image.
“Leverkusen are very clearly the favourites should you take heed to German pundits,” Mueller mentioned on Friday.
“And we, absolutely the underdogs, clearly need to show ourselves. Proper, pricey pundits? We will see.”
In his common e-newsletter despatched to followers on Sunday, Mueller mentioned it was “emotionally particular to play towards our largest home rival on the massive stage.
“It is about successful, but additionally about a number of status. Personally, I believe the little taunts between the 2 golf equipment are fairly entertaining. I all the time favored that as a child and fan.”
– ‘By no means outsiders’ –
Bayern might not all the time impress within the league this season however have managed to get the job completed when it issues.
Within the Champions League, Bayern have struggled, significantly away from dwelling.
Bayern have misplaced to Barcelona, Aston Villa and Feyenoord away within the competitors this season, scoring only one objective and conceding eight.
In mid-February, Bayern wanted a stoppage time Alphonso Davies objective to attract 1-1 at dwelling with Celtic and keep away from further time.
Former Germany midfielder turned pundit Michael Ballack, who performed for each Bayern and Leverkusen in a profession which additionally took him to Stamford Bridge, mentioned the Bavarian giants couldn’t be counted out.
“Many are betting on Leverkusen, however in my eyes Bayern are by no means outsiders, it doesn’t matter what form they’re in.
“They’ve put a number of issues proper with wins towards Frankfurt and Stuttgart (within the league)” in current weeks.
Ballack, who misplaced the Champions League remaining with Leverkusen towards a Zinedine Zidane-inspired Actual Madrid in 2002, mentioned Bayer was “on a par with Bayern” earlier than the conflict.
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