Position
If everything goes to form then Bayern will be champions again and not only Tayfun Korkut is sure of that. FCB have 68 points from 28 games in a season where many experts said they were beatable as never before. However, Ancelotti's men proved to be wrong and now have a ten-point lead over second-placed RB Leipzig. Bayern are also determined to win the Champions League but they did suffer a disappointing 2-1 defeat on their own turf against Real Madrid in the quarter-final first leg on Wednesday night.
Personnel
There is more talk about the personnel situation now than for many a long day. Above all, Robert Lewandowski is irreplaceable as top scorer and even if the Poland international recovers from a shoulder injury by Saturday he will be unavailable to Ancelotti due to a one-match ban. Mats Hummels is also probably ruled out with an ankle injury. However, beware of a Plan B like Boateng.
Potential
When Real Madrid regret allowing a player to go to FC Bayern then that demonstrates the quality of individual players in the FCB squad. That refers to Arjen Robben as the former Real president Calderon would still like to see him playing in the Spanish capital. Robben, in addition to the suspended Lewandowski, is the outstanding player for Bayern at the moment and in the recent 4-1 victory against Borussia Dortmund he was joined on the other wing by Franck Ribéry. The duo have tormented opponents over the years.
Problems
The personnel situation has been discussed in detail. On top of that, there are the games against Real Madrid in the week before and the week after the clash at the BayArena. It cannot be ruled out that the Champions League quarter-final is the main focus for Bayern. On the pitch, Bayern have proved to be most susceptible in the opening 30 minutes of matches. They have conceded 9 out of 15 goals in the league during those phases of games.
Prediction
The treble is the big dream but even Pep Guardiola could not achieve it. Bayern have been waiting for a repeat of that ultimate triumph since 2013 under Jupp Heynckes and despite the home defeat against Real Madrid they are still in with a chance. The first title of the season is as good as sealed with the championship in reach even without the points against Leverkusen.
Bayer 04 will have to manage without defender Guéla Doué for the time being. The Ivory Coast international sustained a muscle injury to his right calf during the final Werkself training session yesterday ahead of the Europa League clash with Slovenian champions NK Celje.
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For the first time since reaching the final against AS Roma (2–2, first leg 2–0) in May 2024, Bayer 04 are playing another home match in the UEFA Europa League – and they will be wearing their new European kit. On Wednesday 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), the BayArena will welcome Slovenian champions NK Celje, who appointed a new coach this week following a mixed start to the season. Under the slogan “40 Years Across Europe. Still Creating History.”, the Black and Reds now aim to add the next chapter to their European history, which has seen so much success in recent years. Bayer 04 fans can follow the match on free-to-air TV on RTL, as well as on Sky and Werkself Radio. The matchday news.
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European football returns to the BayArena: Bayer 04 host Slovenian champions NK Celje on matchday 1 in the group stage of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. Ahead of the match on Wednesday 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), head coach Carles Martínez and midfielder Aleix Garcia spoke at the pre-match press conference. The focus was primarily on the great anticipation surrounding the competition and the clear objectives for it – and, given the circumstances, on a last-minute change to the opposition line-up.
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The champions of Slovenia NK Celje are in a European competition for the fourth time in their history. This Wednesday, 16 September (kick-off: 21:00 CEST), the side lead by head coach Vitor Campelos visit the BayArena for matchday 1 in the group stage in the UEFA Europa League. Celje’s last match at the weekend did not go to plan. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Construction work continues on the ‘Haus der Talente’ on Kurtekottenweg in Leverkusen, where 36 young elite athletes will find a new home from next summer. The building team from Temmink Bau, led by Thomas Wellers, are hard at work. Over the past few days, excavators, wheeled loaders and rollers have removed 2,500 cubic metres of soil to excavate the basement.
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