With just eight games left in the Bundesliga season, Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso has fired up his squad, vowing to push Bayern Munich to the wire in the title race.
Leverkusen host struggling Bochum on Friday, knowing a victory will cut Bayern’s lead to just three points before the defending champions take on defensive powerhouse St Pauli on Saturday.
Alonso, usually measured in his approach, showed confidence ahead of the game:
“The goal is clear—fight until the end. If we win, we put real pressure on Bayern.”
Leverkusen’s never-say-die attitude was on display in their recent 4-3 thriller against Stuttgart, where they overturned a two-goal deficit with a last-gasp winner. Adding to their momentum, star midfielder Florian Wirtz is set to return earlier than expected.
“We won’t be cautious with Flo. If he’s ready sooner, we’ll take the risk,” Alonso said.
Underdogs Ready to Shake Things Up
Bochum, sitting in the relegation playoff spot, have already stunned Bayern and Dortmund this season. Under coach Dieter Hecking, they have picked up 19 of their 20 points, and his contract extension until 2027 could serve as a further boost.
Meanwhile, newly promoted St Pauli, Bayern’s weekend opponents, boast one of the Bundesliga’s best defensive records. The last time these teams met, it took a moment of magic from Jamal Musiala for Bayern to scrape a 1-0 win.
To make things trickier for Bayern, key defenders Alphonso Davies and Dayot Upamecano are out for the season due to international duty injuries.
Rising Star: Nick Woltemade
Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade is making waves. The 1.98-meter striker, signed for free from Werder Bremen, has netted eight times in his last 14 Bundesliga outings. He recently scored a hat-trick for Germany’s U21 side against Spain, sparking debates over a potential senior call-up.
When asked if he’d prefer to play in the U21 Euros or join Julian Nagelsmann’s squad for the Nations League, Woltemade cheekily replied:
“They don’t overlap… I’ve got enough energy for both.”
Key Bundesliga Stats & Fixtures
- 1 – Stuttgart have won just one of their last eight league games.
- 3 – Augsburg have conceded just three goals in 2025, the best record in Europe’s top five leagues.
- 4 – Dortmund have failed to beat Mainz in their last four meetings, including the 2-2 draw that gifted Bayern the 2023 title.
Upcoming Matches (All times GMT)
Friday:
- Bayer Leverkusen vs. Bochum (19:30)
Saturday:
- Bayern Munich vs. St Pauli
- Holstein Kiel vs. Werder Bremen
- Borussia Moenchengladbach vs. RB Leipzig
- Wolfsburg vs. Heidenheim
- Hoffenheim vs. Augsburg
- Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Stuttgart (17:30)
Sunday:
- Freiburg vs. Union Berlin
- Borussia Dortmund vs. Mainz (16:30)
With everything still to play for, all eyes will be on Leverkusen and Bayern as the Bundesliga title race heats up!
