Struggling Bundesliga titleholders Bayer Leverkusen confront an uncertain path ahead.
In the penultimate match of the season, Bayer Leverkusen is set to say goodbye to coach Xabi Alonso and possibly midfielder Florian Wirtz. Alonso, the trailblazing coach who ravaged the 'Neverkusen' tag by leading Leverkusen to the Bundesliga title last season, might be on his way to Real Madrid, where he bagged the Champions League as a player.
The departure had been looming for Alonso, who's often spoken fondly of Leverkusen as a stepping stone. Wirtz's exit, however, will be a bitter pill to swallow, especially if the Germany regular moves to bitter rivals Bayern Munich, rumors suggest.
Born only 20 minutes away in Pulheim, Wirtz was poached from FC Cologne's academy and made his debut at 17, eclipsing Kai Havertz's record as Leverkusen's youngest debutant. After a successful recovery from an ACL injury in 2022, Wirtz was instrumental in Leverkusen's double league and cup win last season and was named Bundesliga player of the year.
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Wirtz expressed his desire to step out of his comfort zone and explore new experiences at some point, fueling exit speculation.
The chatter surrounding their departure has overshadowed an otherwise impressive season at the BayArena. Leverkusen, despite coming back to earth after last year's record-breaking campaign, have shown resilience, losing only twice all season, but with four more draws than champions Bayern.
A win in their remaining two games would bring Leverkusen to 74 points, the second-best tally in their history and enough points to win the league two seasons ago. Their opponents, Borussia Dortmund, will be motivated to make the most of the uncertainty, as they chase a Champions League spot.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich's own star, Thomas Mueller, is set to play his last home game at the Allianz Arena on Saturday. Despite Bayern's decline to extend his contract, Mueller remains eager to continue his career. Jupp Heynckes, Mueller's former mentor, believes Mueller should consider retiring, citing his immense contributions to the club and his potential future role within it.
Key stats for the season include Harry Kane's 24 league goals, nine of which were from pens, making Patrik Schick and Serhou Guirassy (21 and 17 goals, respectively) the Bundesliga's top scorers from open play. Bayern's Michael Olise holds the record for most assists this season, with 13.
Fixtures this weekend include Wolfsburg vs Hoffenheim, Holstein Kiel vs Freiburg, Bochum vs Mainz, Werder Bremen vs RB Leipzig, Union Berlin vs Heidenheim, Bayern Munich vs Borussia Moenchengladbach, Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund, Eintracht Frankfurt vs St Pauli, and Stuttgart vs Augsburg.
- The Champions League, a prestigious tournament where Xabi Alonso won a title as a player, could potentially be the next destination for him, should he leave Bayer Leverkusen.
- With the youngest Bundesliga player of the year, Florian Wirtz, rumored to depart for Bayern Munich, Leverkusen fans may feel the sting of losing a homegrown talent to a bitter rival.
- In the European-leagues landscape of 2025, Leverkusen may find themselves challenging for the title, aiming for a tally of 74 points or more, a number that would have clinched them the league two seasons ago.
- As Leverkusen prepares for a crucial match against Borussia Dortmund in the penultimate game of the season, other German teams such as Wolfsburg, Holstein Kiel, Bochum, Werder Bremen, Union Berlin, Bayern Munich, Stuttgart, and Eintracht Frankfurt are also gearing up for their weekend fixtures.
- In those upcoming games, players like Kai Havertz's successor, Wirtz, Michael Olise (who holds the most assists record this season), and strikers like Harry Kane, Patrik Schick, and Serhou Guirassy, will be central figures to watch.
- Meanwhile, another football legend, Thomas Mueller, is preparing for his final home game at the Allianz Arena, despite speculation regarding his future in the Premier League or elsewhere. His former coach, Jupp Heynckes, has suggested that Mueller should consider retirement in light of his immense contributions to the club and potential future roles within it.
