The double winner against the record champions. Leverkusen’s Granit Xhaka knows exactly what that means. And they all know what they have to watch out for against the resurgent Munich team.
According to Granit Xhaka, the pressure on Bayer Leverkusen as champions before the top match against FC Bayern is “not necessarily greater, but different”. The 31-year-old Swiss midfielder explained to the pay-TV channel Sky before the top match of the fifth matchday of the Bundesliga this Saturday (6.30 p.m./Sky): “If you become champions and cup winners, the pressure on our side should of course be a bit higher. But I have the feeling that we can handle the pressure very well and have the experience for it.”
“This is a Champions League opponent”
In the still young season with just four games, Bayern have already made their ambitions more than clear with four wins and a goal difference of 16:3. Leverkusen are second in the table before the summit meeting with three wins and one loss and a goal difference of 13:9. “The offense is very strong and in defense they concede fewer goals,” emphasized Xhaka: “This is a Champions League opponent.”
That’s what coach Xabi Alonso told them on Wednesday. They know how much potential Bayern have and what new ideas have been brought into their game by the new coach Vincent Kompany. “We have of course analyzed their players and you can see that a lot of things are working very well. Almost every shot is a goal for them.” It is definitely a top match “and we are ready for it,” assured Xhaka.
Source: Stern
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