Bayern Embraces Underdog Status Ahead of High-Stakes Clash with Leverkusen

The German football powerhouse Bayern Munich is feeling aggrieved by claims that they are the underdogs in their crucial Champions League round of 16 matchup with Bayer Leverkusen.

Bayern will host Xabi Alonso’s reigning German champions in Munich on Wednesday, with the return leg scheduled for the following Tuesday in Leverkusen.

With a level of resources and a rich history that far exceeds any other club in Germany, Bayern is typically the favourite when facing fellow German sides, regardless of the arena or competition.

However, both analysts and bookmakers have predicted Leverkusen to progress to the quarter-finals, which has sparked frustration among the Bavarians, particularly with Munich set to host this year’s final.

Since reaching consecutive finals in 2012 and 2013, Bayern have only failed to advance past the last 16 once in the last 13 seasons, their only exit coming against Liverpool, managed by Jurgen Klopp, who went on to lift the trophy.

Club stalwart Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who, along with Uli Hoeness, transformed Bayern into a European heavyweight, expressed that the team feels underestimated and will respond accordingly.

“Everyone has named Bayer Leverkusen the favourite. I know our team – and it annoys them.”

‘Absolute underdogs’

Since taking charge at Leverkusen in October 2022, Xabi Alonso has never lost to Bayern, boasting three wins and three draws in their encounters.

During his three seasons as a midfielder at Bayern, Alonso also maintained an unbeaten record against Leverkusen, further exemplifying his prowess in this particular fixture as both a player and coach.

In December, Leverkusen sent Bayern packing from the German Cup with a narrow 1-0 victory in Munich.

That match saw Bayern captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer receive the first red card of his illustrious career after a reckless challenge on Jeremie Frimpong outside the penalty area, which resulted in a fractured rib for Neuer, suggesting that Leverkusen had managed to get under Bayern’s skin.

In their latest clash in February in Leverkusen, Bayern were thoroughly outplayed, failing to record a shot on target for only the second time in a league match since 1992.

Despite this, the game ended in a goalless draw, preserving Bayern’s eight-point advantage at the top of the table and keeping their title defence on track, demonstrating that the typically dominant Bayern can adopt a pragmatic approach when required under coach Vincent Kompany.

Veteran midfielder Thomas Muller, a two-time Champions League winner with Bayern, indicated that those predicting Leverkusen would eliminate his team from the tournament are overlooking key details.

“Leverkusen are clearly viewed as the favourites by German pundits,” Muller mentioned on Friday.

“And we, the so-called absolute underdogs, obviously want to prove them wrong. Right, esteemed pundits? Time will tell.”

In his weekly newsletter to fans on Sunday, Muller remarked that it was “emotionally significant to face our biggest domestic rivals on such a grand stage.”

“It’s not only about winning but also about prestige. I find the playful banter between the two clubs quite enjoyable. I always appreciated that as a child and a fan.”

‘Never outsiders’

While Bayern may not have dazzled in the league this season, they have shown an ability to get results when it counts.

In the Champions League, however, Bayern has faced challenges, particularly away from home.

This season, they have suffered defeats against Barcelona, Aston Villa, and Feyenoord on the road, managing to score just once while conceding eight goals.

In mid-February, Bayern relied on a stoppage-time equaliser from Alphonso Davies to salvage a 1-1 draw against Celtic at home and avoid extra time.

Former Germany international and pundit Michael Ballack, who played for both Bayern and Leverkusen during his career which included a stint at Stamford Bridge, believes the Bavarian giants should not be written off.

“Many are placing their bets on Leverkusen, but in my opinion, Bayern are never truly the underdogs, regardless of their current form.”

“They’ve rectified many of their issues with recent wins against Frankfurt and Stuttgart in the league.”

Ballack, who experienced defeat in the Champions League final with Leverkusen against a Zinedine Zidane-led Real Madrid in 2002, stated that Bayer is “on par with Bayern” leading up to the encounter.