BERLIN: Indomitable this season, Bayern Munich have another chance to demonstrate their superiority when Bayer Leverkusen visit in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
Leverkusen ended Bayern’s record 11-year run as champion in 2024, but the Bavarian powerhouse wrested the title back last season and Leverkusen have undergone a summer transformation after losing key players.
While Bayern look even stronger in Vincent Kompany’s second season in charge — 14 wins across all games including the German Supercup so far — Leverkusen are already on to their second coach after making a botched start under Erik ten Hag.
Kasper Hjulmand has steadied the team, which have won their last four Bundesliga games but were humbled 7-2 at home by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
Another Bundesliga challenge is not expected from Leverkusen this season.
Key matchups
Bayern warmed up by beating Cologne 4-1 in the German Cup, where Leverkusen were taken to extra time by 10-man second-division side Paderborn before eventually prevailing 4-2.
There’s a clash between second and third on Saturday when Leipzig host Stuttgart. Germany forward Deniz Undav is back for Stuttgart.
Augsburg coach Sandro Wagner must fear for his job before Borussia Dortmund’s visit on Friday after his team’s German Cup exit to second-division Bochum just days after a 6-0 hiding at home to Leipzig. Wagner’s team have lost five of their eight league games.
Wolfsburg coach Paul Simonis is also in trouble before Hoffenheim’s visit on Sunday after his team’s cup exit to second-division Holstein Kiel. Wolfsburg have lost five of their last six games.
Also on Sunday, Cologne host Hamburger SV in a duel between promoted teams.
Players to watch
Harry Kane remains central to Bayern’s brilliant start and took his goal tally to 22 against Cologne on Wednesday. The England forward has failed to score in only two games this season.
Nadiem Amiri was desolate after Mainz’s cup loss to Stuttgart on Wednesday. Mainz will need the Germany playmaker at his best against Werder Bremen on Saturday to stop their run of four straight league defeats.
The 16-year-old Wael Mohya made his debut for Borussia Mönchengladbach in the cup on Tuesday to become the club’s youngest player. He left to ovations from the fans, who’ll hope to see him again on Saturday at St. Pauli.
Off the field
There are fears of trouble in Berlin on Saturday when Union Berlin and Hertha Berlin play home games around the same time. Usually the German soccer league makes sure the city rivals alternate home games, making security arrangements necessary for only one at a time. But a league official said a holiday in the west German state of North Rhine-Westphalia meant no games can be played there on Friday with knock-on effects for other teams.
Hertha host Dynamo Dresden for what would already be considered a high-risk game in the second division, then Union host Freiburg a couple of hours later in the Bundesliga. Fans from all four clubs will be in the German capital at the same time, with up to 35,000 expected from Dresden.
Bayern relishing another chance to show their might against Leverkusen in Bundesliga
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Bayern relishing another chance to show their might against Leverkusen in Bundesliga
- Bayern warmed up by beating Cologne 4-1 in the German Cup
- There’s a clash between second and third on Saturday when Leipzig host Stuttgart
Spin-heavy Pakistan hit form, but India boycott risks early T20 exit
- Pakistan face must-win group matches, leaving no margin for error in T20 World Cup progression
- Recent series wins have restored confidence, but batting volatility remains Pakistan’s biggest risk
LAHORE: Pakistan’s spin-heavy squad are in winning form ahead of the T20 World Cup, but a controversial decision to forfeit their marquee clash against India could still trigger another early exit.
Pakistan came close to withdrawing from the tournament in solidarity with Bangladesh, who pulled out after refusing to play in India, citing security concerns.
The Pakistan government eventually cleared the team’s participation but it barred them from facing India in Colombo in a blockbuster clash on February 15.
With two points for a win, a forfeit of the match will leave Pakistan with no margin for error if they are to progress as one of the top two from a five-team Group A.
It means they must win their opening game against the Netherlands in Colombo on Saturday and beat the United States three days later to stay in contention.
Their final group game will be against Namibia on February 18.
Captain Salman Agha said the move to boycott the India game was out of the team’s hands.
“That is not our decision. We have to follow what our government decides,” he said.
The Pakistan government has not said what their stance might be if the team were to end up facing India again in the semifinals or final. Agha was not thinking about that.
“Our job is to win, and we are capable of doing that,” he said.
Pakistan will be keen to avoid a repeat of the last T20 World Cup in 2024, where a shock super over defeat to co-hosts the United States led to them failing to get out of the group.
The side has since faced criticism for failing to adapt to the modern demands of T20 cricket, with the batting, particularly Babar Azam’s low strike rate, under scrutiny.
The criticism was fueled by Pakistan’s record last year, where 21 of their 34 T20 international wins came against lower-ranked opponents.
CONFIDENCE RESTORED
Against elite teams, the results were sobering: three losses to India in the Asia Cup and a 4-1 series defeat to New Zealand.
However, Agha believes recent performances have restored confidence.
Pakistan beat South Africa 2-1, won a home tri-series, and then completed a 3-0 sweep of an under-strength Australia.
“We’ve had good preparation by beating Australia. We have the luxury of quality spinning all-rounders like Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan and Saim Ayub.
“We’re ticking most boxes and believe we can win the World Cup,” Agha said.
The spin department has been strengthened by Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq, the latter known for his unusual, slingy action and exaggerated pause at the crease.
The pace attack is led by the experienced Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah.
Faheem Ashraf provides seam-bowling all-round support and newcomer Salman Mirza has been impressive.
Batting remains Pakistan’s most volatile component.
When openers Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan provide strong starts, the side can post competitive totals, but collapses remain a constant threat.
Head coach Mike Hesson has added another layer of risk by leaving out experienced wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan because of poor form, opting instead for makeshift options in Usman Khan, Khawaja Nafay and Farhan.
For Pakistan, the ingredients for a deep run are present, but with points potentially forfeited, there is little room left for error.
