Leverkusen – Bayern Munich travels to the BayArena on Saturday to face Bayer Leverkusen in a crucial Bundesliga encounter, but the defending champions arrive with a growing injury list. While Vincent Kompany’s side currently enjoys an 11-point lead at the top of the table, the coach is grappling with several key absences, most notably in goal. However, there’s positive news on the injury front with star striker Harry Kane poised to return to the starting lineup.
The situation in goal is particularly acute for Bayern. Both Manuel Neuer and Jonas Urbig are unavailable, forcing Kompany to turn to veteran Sven Ulreich for his first appearance since January 2025. Ulreich, at 37, will be tasked with anchoring the defense against a potent Leverkusen attack. Adding to Kompany’s concerns are the injuries to Alphonso Davies and Jamal Musiala, both of whom will miss Saturday’s match.
The return of Kane, however, provides a significant boost. The England captain has been sidelined with a calf complaint, missing the previous Bundesliga fixture and playing a limited role in Bayern’s impressive 6-1 Champions League win over Atalanta. “Harry has had a full week of training now, which wasn’t the case before Atalanta,” Kompany explained. “If he can play, then he will play.” Kane’s presence is expected to add a new dimension to Bayern’s attack, which has still managed to find the net consistently in his absence, scoring 10 goals in the two games he’s missed.
Leverkusen, currently sixth in the Bundesliga, will be a stern test for Bayern. Kompany acknowledged the challenge, stating, “They were demanding to break down. If Arsenal had difficulties there, then Bayern also knows that there needs to be a bit of grit in our performance if we desire to get something.” Leverkusen recently secured a 1-1 draw against Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie, demonstrating their ability to compete with top European sides.
Elsewhere in the Bundesliga this weekend, Hoffenheim will glance to continue their strong form when they host Wolfsburg. Wolfsburg, however, is in a crisis, having lost six of their last seven matches and recently seeing Dieter Hecking appointed as their new manager in an attempt to turn things around. Alexander Prass, the Austrian international, is expected to feature for Hoffenheim.
Another key match sees RB Leipzig travel to Stuttgart in a clash between two teams vying for a Champions League spot. Xaver Schlager, another Austrian international, is nearing a return from injury for Leipzig, but is unlikely to be available for this match.
Bayern’s comfortable lead in the Bundesliga standings allows Kompany some leeway, but a strong performance against a challenging Leverkusen side will be crucial to maintaining momentum heading into the final stretch of the season. The match at the BayArena is set for 15:30 local time (9:30 AM ET) on Saturday.
Following Saturday’s match, Bayern will turn their attention back to Champions League duties. Their next fixture is the second leg of their round of 16 tie against Atalanta. The Bundesliga schedule continues next week with a home match against Borussia Dortmund.
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