Preview: Bayern Munich face Bayer Leverkusen in DFB Pokal Round of 16 | OneFootball

Of all the different combinations, Bayern Munich ended up drawing their title rivals and the hardest possible matchup in Bayer Leverkusen. It’s a pity that this game, which could have easily been the final, is to be played in the Round of 16. However, this premature showdown comes with a big upside for the winning team: one of the favorites to win the competition will already be eliminated. The same can be said for the other high-profile contest between Eintracht Frankfurt and RB Leipzig which will take place on Wednesday.

From FC Bayern’s point-of-view this game couldn’t have come at a worse time as star-striker Harry Kane has just been added to a long list of injured first-team players. Bayern will field a makeshift striker with Müller, Tel, or Gnabry, but the absence of a proper focal point and guaranteed goal-getter will still be a major loss for the home team. One big respite for them is the return of Sacha Boey who looked promising in the cameo against Dortmund on Saturday.

Vincent Kompany’s time at Munich has been a mixed bag in terms of results in big games, with bitter defeats against Aston Villa and FC Barcelona, wins against Stuttgart and Paris Saint-Germain, and draws against Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Leverkusen. This will undoubtedly be the Belgian’s biggest test of the Hinrunde.

Will Leverkusen play a low block once again?

It’s fair to say that Bayer Leverkusen have been a shadow of their former self lately. They don’t look nearly as efficient and fluid as they did last season despite having a virtually unchanged team. They currently sit third in the Bundesliga with 23 points after 12 games.

Bayern hosted Leverkusen not long ago in September where Xabi Alonso's side managed to escape with a point. For Bayern, the draw felt more like a loss, since they had the majority of the ball possession and still couldn’t sufficiently threaten a highly defensive Leverkusen side who, to be fair, never really came out of their shell through all the 90 minutes.

And thus the big question for Tuesday stands: Will Leverkusen play in a similar way to how they did against Bayern in their previous encounter or will Xabi Alonso ask his players to try playing on the front foot as well?

Leverkusen executed the low block perfectly in September and it could work well once again in the Pokal clash. With runners in Frimpong and Schick and pin-point passers in Wirtz, Xhaka, and Grimaldo they could look to make the most of counter-attacking scenarios while sitting back throughout the game. The efficacy of this model will also be contingent on the performance of Bayern attackers, their ability to pick the right passes, and ultimately their finishing in front of the goal. Both of which, weren’t up to the mark in their previous Bundesliga fixture against the defending champions.

On the other hand, if Leverkusen opts to play a more attacking game they will try to build from the back and retain possession instead of punting the ball long. It won’t be an easy task as Bayern’s pressing and counter-pressing have been top-notch this season. However, if Xabi’s team does manage to move the ball up the field, they have world-class players in their midfield and attack to carve open Bayern and threaten Neuer's goal. This would make the game much more dynamic, with plenty of space for both teams to take advantage of.

Bayern can’t afford another early Pokal exit

Whether Alonso goes for the tried and tested or for the bold and brave will be seen on the matchday, but Bayern’s approach is already nailed on. Kompany wants his team to be on the front foot at all times, no matter the opposition. Having the home advantage will provide a significant upper hand, further contributing to Bayern’s efforts to assert dominance.

Both teams have huge motivations as they gear up for the Pokal clash. Bayern Munich, winless in their last four encounters against Leverkusen, will aim to break that streak with a resounding victory and advance in the Pokal. Since lifting the trophy in 2020 Die Roten have fared poorly in the cup, with their most recent elimination being an embarrassing loss at the hands of third-tier side FC Saarbrücken last season.

Meanwhile, Xabi Alonso’s team will look to upset the Rekordmeister and gain a much-needed boost in what has been a lacklustre start to their season. Eliminating Bayern would also significantly propel their chances of successfully defending the Pokal title.