Football: Bayern fully motivated in the league summit

The Munich team lead the table with four wins from four games and a goal difference of 16:3, followed by the “Werkself” three points behind. Bayern coach Vincent Kompany is looking forward to the duel. “It's an important game against perhaps the best team of the last twelve months,” explained the Belgian.

After 20 goals in the last three games and a high-scoring start to the Oktoberfest, the Munich team want to give last season's league dominator a big boost. “We are playing at home against the champions and want to win,” said the 38-year-old, who is hoping for the recently injured Manuel Neuer in goal.

Alonso: “We are ready”

Leverkusen registers with the self-image of the champions. “We are ready,” said former Bayern professional and now Bayer coach Xabi Alonso. “I don’t know whether it’s the toughest game for Bayern, but the game in Munich is the toughest for all the other teams.” Alonso leaves his lederhosen at home. “We don’t have time for that,” said the Basque about visiting a beer tent. Both teams will continue in the Champions League in a few days.

The coaching duel between Kompany and Alonso is coming into particular focus after Munich's tough search for Thomas Tuchel's successor. The Leverkusen master coach was initially a preferred candidate – no one had expected Kompany's surprise solution. Kompany laughed loudly when asked whether this constellation brought with it any special motivation.

“It always seems like everyone has an extraordinary ego.” “I don't care at all,” said Kompany, who has already faced Alonso as a player in the Premier League and the Champions League. “My motivation is: Leverkusen were champions, they come to the Allianz Arena, we are leaders and we have the opportunity to do something for our fans.”

“Until someone opens the door”

Munich's record player Thomas Müller is expecting an exciting league summit. “They keep knocking on the door until someone opens it,” said the 35-year-old. “It’s crazy that at Bayer Leverkusen someone always opens up in stoppage time.”

This season, the last-minute kings from the Rhine won twice in stoppage time against Gladbach and Wolfsburg. The Munich team still has a painful memory of the 2-2 draw from the previous season, when Leverkusen lost out in a wild stoppage time. FC Bayern could have sold over 300,000 tickets and there is space for 75,000 spectators in the stadium.

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