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Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich

“We’re happy to get going again – even though the break was very short,” said Leverkusen head coach Heiko Herrlich at the pre-match press conference on Thursday afternoon. 

The Bayer 04 players and coaching staff only had 12 days to recharge their batteries: The Werkself returned to training on 2 January to prepare for the forthcoming clash with the league leaders who have a 13-point lead over the Werkself in fourth place.

Heiko Herrlich is well aware of the focus on Leverkusen tomorrow night: “The match will be broadcast worldwide. Everyone will be watching us, full of hope for us and wanting the Bundesliga to be more exciting.” The 46-year-old also knows the magnitude of the challenge facing his team: “Bayern Munich are the best side in the league. If they produce their best form it will be incredibly difficult. We need to be 100 per cent on top of our game, hope for or force mistakes and then we’ll be in with a small chance.”

Unbeaten since September, just three defeats in their last 17 and unbeaten at home this season – Bayer Leverkusen have good reasons to be “full of confidence” ahead of the resumption of Bundesliga action against Bayern on Friday night.

Jupp Heynckes has not had long to prepare his team for the resumption of Bundesliga action in 2018 – just ten days in fact, with six of them spent at the training camp in Doha. However, the FC Bayern head coach is not complaining (“It’s the same for all teams.”) but was in a fine mood on the eve of the first game of the second half of the season. 

“Who was the last Bayern coach to win in Leverkusen?” he asked mischievously at his press conference. Heynckes grinned knowing full well that it was in fact him.

The 2-1 victory in March 2013 was the last time the record German champions won at Bayer Leverkusen – almost five years ago. 

Heynckes’ message ahead of Friday’s game at Leverkusen. ``Watch out for the Werkself!``

Heynckes warned: “They’re a young, highly talented, hungry, quick team with plenty of imagination.” The Bayern coach is expecting a game with “a lot of elements that make football attractive. It’s an opening fixture that has the capability to be both thrilling and tough.”

Team news: 

Leverkusen: Heiko Herrlich is in the happy position of having virtually a full squad to choose from. Only Vladlen Yurchenko is unavailable due to a foot injury. “It feels good to be in this position,” said Herrlich. And Lars Bender, who was struggling with cold symptoms in the past few days, now appears to be back on track according to Herrlich: “He was able to train and I’m not worried about him being unavailable tomorrow.”

Following the final pre-match training session on Thursday afternoon, the Bayer 04 coaching staff will again be spoilt for choice in picking the side to take on Bayern Munich. "We have a lot of players trying to get in the starting eleven. There will be some tough decisions to make tomorrow," said Herrlich.

Munich: As for whether Sandro Wagner will replace Lewandowski in attack, Heynckes stated that the winter signing is “the first option”. The treble-winning coach still had to mull it over, although the 29-year-old forward had “impressed” him. “He’s very ambitious, very disciplined. He’s integrated very well into the squad.” However, there has not been enough time to adequately convey attacking plays and understanding of the team’s game. “The process of integration takes longer than just two weeks,” Heynckes added.

The team are also only halfway to their target of the league title. Heynckes described the 11-point gap at the top of the table as “comfortable” but at the same time stressed, “We have to keep going and not look at the table because that doesn’t win us points.” His motto for the second half of the season: “Momentum stems from success.” And that begins on Friday evening.

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