Bundesliga
Bayern second again – Leverkusen “formidable” competitor
Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel and his team are in second place in the Bundesliga behind Bayer Leverkusen. photo
© Sven Hoppe/dpa
FC Bayern only managed to return to the top of the Bundesliga table for one night. Competitor Leverkusen remains stable. Coach Tuchel can hope for winter arrivals.
After a night at the top of the Bundesliga table, the FC Bayern Munich have to let their competitor Bayer Leverkusen pass them again.
“I think Leverkusen are doing well,” said President Herbert Hainer in Munich. You have eleven wins and two draws, but you are only second. “Then you have to say that Leverkusen are a formidable competitor.”
The Werkself clearly won their home game against 1. FC Union Berlin 4-0 on Sunday. Alejandro Grimaldo (23rd minute), Odilon Kossounou (56th), Jonathan Tah (73rd) and Nathan Tella (83rd) ensured the tenth success in the eleventh league game of the season. Bayer leads the table (31 points) ahead of Munich (29) and Stuttgart (24). Leipzig (23) and Dortmund (21) follow.
CEO Tuchel promises additions in winter
“I think you shouldn’t underestimate Dortmund and Leipzig, but Leverkusen are doing very, very well,” said Hainer. “They have a coach, and we’ve worked on that a little bit. He’s played for us for a long time. He’s doing really well.” Xabi Alsono played for FC Bayern from 2014 to 2017.
The Munich team took first place for one night with a 4-2 win against 1. FC Heidenheim. “I hope that Leverkusen will switch to a draw mode,” said Thomas Müller. A new attempt to return to first place will be made on the next match day.
With a view to the sparsely staffed squad, CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen promised coach Thomas Tuchel additions in the winter. “It is well known that we will of course look at something and where we would tend to do something if we find the right thing,” said Dreesen. Munich could use reinforcements, especially in defense.