Form: Second in the table
Leverkusen got off to a somewhat sluggish start in 2020/21 by drawing their first three games, but they went on to collect 25 of the next 27 possible points. Die Werkself were top of the table after Matchday 12 – and the only unbeaten team left in Germany – before they slipped to a 2-1 defeat by Bayern Munich, who leapfrogged them in the standings.
| Bayer Leverkusen 2020/21 | |
|---|---|
| Stats | 8 wins, 4 draws, 1 defeat, 28:12 goal difference, 28 points, 2nd in the table |
| Form | D-W-W-W-L |
| Goalscorers | Alario (8), Bailey (4), Schick (4), Baumgartlinger (2), Diaby (2), Wirtz (2), Amiri (1), Demirbay (1), Dragovic (1), Tah (1), Weiser (1) |
Tactics: Solid at the back, dangerous up front
Head coach Peter Bosz has primarily employed a 4-3-3 formation this term, allowing his side to exploit their attacking talents as best as possible. It has certainly paid off, as Leverkusen’s 28-goal haul to date is bettered only by Bayern’s (39), while the paltry 12 goals conceded means they have the league’s second-best defence after Leipzig (nine). Eintracht will have to be particularly alert at dead-ball situations, as Leverkusen have scored a league-high 13 goals from set pieces this season.
One to watch: Florian Wirtz
Florian Wirtz is in the process of filling the void left by Kai Havertz following his summer transfer to Chelsea. The Pullheim native has quickly become a first-team regular in Leverkusen and is one of the driving forces behind the team’s recent success. The 17-year-old pulls the strings in Bayer’s attack and has already registered two goals and four assists in 12 Bundesliga outings this season.
The attacking midfielder joined 1. FC Köln in July 2010 and progressed through the various age categories there before switching to Leverkusen in January 2020. Wirtz is highly prized by his club owing to his composure, ease in possession and creativity.
