Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich faced its first substantial test of the season at home to reigning Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen, leaving opposition manager Xabi Alonso impressed.
After the match, Alonso received the question (captured via @iMiaSanMia) of whether or not Vincent Kompany’s Bayern side was tougher opposition than Thomas Tuchel’s, and responded, saying, “Today was tough, yeah. We also got a draw here last season, but today was tough. They don’t give you a lot of chances to breathe. We had to be very disciplined and sacrifice. I’m proud of the team. I’m happy with the point.”
Alonso is right to be proud, as Leverkusen fought hard for their point. The Bavarians were a dominant force throughout the match, enjoying 69% possession, and creating 1.32 expected goals across a total of 18 shots. This contrasts heavily with the meager 0.07 expected goals from the three shots Alonso’s men put forward (FotMob).
Bayern faces Aston Villa in the Champions League for its next outing, and if the team can keep up its current level, 2024/25 will be a very successful season.
Looking for more thoughts and analysis on Bayern Munich’s 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen? Then check out our Bavarian Podcast Works — Postgame Show where we cover everything from the starting XI selections, a rundown of the scoring and substitutions, observations from the match, and where things go from here. You can get the show on Patreon, Spotify, or below:
