Bundesliga leaders FC Bayern München will be hoping to register a third win in 2016 when they visit UEFA Champions League hopefuls Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the BayArena on Saturday (kick-off: 18.30CET/17.30GMT – follow it LIVE on our minute-by-minute ticker from 17.30CET/16.30GMT!).
bundesliga.com is keeping you up to date with all the latest ahead of Matchday 20’s headline fixture…
What you need to know
© gettyimages / Volkmann
From ‘Chicharito’ facing off with Robert Lewandowski to Pep Guardiola’s patchwork job with an injury-hit backline, there are sub-plots aplenty in the Saturday showdown. Fortunately for you, bundesliga.com has the lowdown on all the things you need to be keeping an eye out for ahead of what promises to be a scintillating clash of two sides boasting a wealth of quality in their ranks.
Top 10 goals!
To whet your appetite for tonight’s encounter check out the 10 best strikes to have featured in this fixture.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1wQGdBWZOw]
‘Keep the run going’
FC Bayern have won their last four Bundesliga games to maintain their eight-point lead at the top of the table. In that time frame Manuel Neuer hasn’t had a whole lot to do, conceding just once, but could potentially be somewhat busier keep Chicharito and Co. at bay. With a tough run of fixtures ahead, the Bayern and Germany No1 had his feet firmly on the ground in his pre-match press conference.
Star strikers sub-plot
© DFL DEUTSCHE FUSSBALL LIGA
While title and top-four credentials will be tested on Saturday evening, one of the most intriguing sub-plots surrounding the game features two in-form strikers with a penchant for deciding games in their sides’ favour. ‘Chicharito’ and Robert Lewandowski have amassed 32 goals between them in the current campaign, but who can get their name on the scoresheet tonight?
Keys to the game
Unlike some of the other teams in Germany’s top flight, Leverkusen have proven to be a thorn in FC Bayern’s side more often than not in recent years, especially on home soil. The record titleholders have only won once in the last six visits to the BayArena and head coach Roger Schmidt will be hoping his side can keeping that impressive run going.
‘Of course we can beat Bayern’
© DFL DEUTSCHE FUSSBALL LIGA
Leverkusen’s Kevin Kampl was in a confident mood ahead of the mouthwatering encounter with the league leaders. Talking exclusively with bundesliga.com the versatile midfielder offered opinions on his and Leverkusen’s expectations in the second half of the season, just how good the Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez and Stefan Kießling partnership is and his side’s chances of causing an upset against Bayern on Saturday.
Special occasions
Two of FC Bayern’s biggest stars could reach a new landmark with the German record titleholders and will be hoping to celebrate with three points against die Werkself.
4hrs until kick-off!
Hello and welcome one and all! Matchday 20 has served up a spectacular encounter to close out Saturday’s action as treble-chasing FC Bayern München travel to the BayArena to take on Bayer 04 Leverkusen. We’ll be covering all the build-up throughout the day before taking the reigns on a LIVE ticker dedicated to bringing you minute-by-minute updates from the crunch clash. For now though why not enjoy some pre-match reading by having a once over bundesliga.com’s exclusive preview.
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