Bayer Leverkusen’s management would be in order if they informed the city’s authorities to preserve for them a day for a victory parade sometime in late April or early May. Die Werkself moved within a breath of a Bundesliga and DfB Pokal (German Cup) double when they wiped the floor with Fortuna Dusseldorf 4-0 midweek in a stern reminder to domestic rivals they have not turned off the afterburners that have propelled them to a 40-match unbeaten run.
The Factory Eleven club chairman Klaus Beck and his managing director of sport Simon Rolfes also wouldn’t be out of order if they ordered fans to adopt the theme song for Sean Connery’s 1983 James Bond movie ‘Never Say Never Again’, for days of denigrating the Bay Arena outfit as ‘Neverkusen’ in reference to absence of a single Bundesliga title in their history are almost over.
Xabi Alonso’s Invincibles can move within two victories of the first German top flight title in their 119 years of existence if they negotiate the potential banana skin that is the trip to Union Berlin on Saturday. The Bay Arena outfit should give minutes to recuperated striker Victor Boniface after the Nigerian returned from a four month injury lay-off with a brief cameo on Wednesday.
Eleven time defending champions Bayern Munich who are 13 points off title pace following last week’s 0-2 setback at the hands of Borussia Dortmund, find themselves looking over their shoulders nervously ahead of their trip to Heidenheim. Anything less than maximum points will open the door for Stuttgart who have the more demanding fixture at Borussia Dortmund in Saturday’s late kick off.
The return to fitness of Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnarby has given Allianz Arena coach Thomas Tuchel a welcome selection dilemma as he juggles resources in readiness for Tuesday’s Uefa Champions League clash with Arsenal at Emirates Stadium. It would be a scant surprise if Tuchel rested 32-goal top scorer Harry Kane and his main striking partner Leroy Sane in favour of Gnarby, Coman and Mathys Tel.
Bundesliga action commences on Friday night with Eintracht Frankfurt hosting Werder Bremen in a must win game if the Eagles are to retain any chance of qualifying for the Europa League. Saturday’s match day program includes a feisty encounter between Christian Streich’s Freiburg and Marco Rose’s Rosenball Leipzig while new Wolfsburg boss Ralph Hasenhuttl will be chasing his second consecutive victory at home to Gerardo Seoane’s troubled Gladbach on Sunday.
FRIDAY
Eintracht Frankfurt v Werder Bremen
SATURDAY
Union Berlin v Bayer Leverkusen,
Freiburg v RB Leipzig,
Mainz v Darmstadt,
Koln v Bochum,
Heidenheim v Bayern Munich,
Borussia Dortmund v Stuttgart
SUNDAY
Hoffenheim v Augsburg,
Wolfsburg v Gladbach