The Bundesliga title race is fiercely contested by two prominent clubs in Germany. As expected, Bayern Munich, the largest and most supported team in Germany, is a key contender.
Harry Kane’s arrival last summer from Tottenham Hotspur has significantly bolstered Bayern’s prospects for both the Bundesliga title and the Champions League with his goal-scoring prowess.
However, Bayer Leverkusen, managed by former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso, has emerged as a formidable competitor this season, remaining undefeated in the Bundesliga campaign so far. In a stunning display, Leverkusen secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Bayern at the BayArena in their latest encounter.
The hosts took the lead within 20 minutes through Josip Stanisic, with Álex Grimaldo doubling the advantage early in the second half. Jeremie Frimpong sealed the victory in injury time, decisively ending any hope of a Bayern comeback.
This result has widened the gap to five points between the two clubs at the top of the Bundesliga table, positioning Alonso’s side as strong contenders for their first-ever German top-flight title.
Notably, the opening goalscorer, Stanisic, is on loan from Bayern to Bayer Leverkusen for the season, allowing him to play against his parent club—a practice not typically allowed in British football.
Bayern manager Thomas Tuchel expressed his frustration with this absence of a similar rule in Germany, citing the English practice where loaned players are prohibited from facing their parent clubs. Tuchel lamented Bayern’s disadvantage due to this situation but acknowledged Stanisic’s role as a Bayer Leverkusen player.
While uncommon, such scenarios have occurred before, notably in 2020 when Phillippe Coutinho, on loan from Barcelona, scored twice for Bayern against his parent club in the Champions League quarter-finals, contributing to Bayern’s eventual triumph in the tournament.
