The end of the Bayern-Leverkusen rivalry

In the world of football, dramatic confrontations rarely last forever. What is happening between Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga is the clearest proof of that rule.

A top-notch war is in danger of collapsing - not because of a lack of appeal, but because its main pillars may soon disappear.

When people can't celebrate as expected

Imagine the scene at the fancy restaurant where Bayern Munich players gathered last weekend. They had come expecting to pop champagne to celebrate their 33rd title, but instead they were sitting in their casual clothes, nervously watching the Freiburg-Leverkusen match in the Bundesliga round 32.

When Freiburg scored, there was a sigh of relief - not the joy of a true champion, but the relief of someone who had just escaped danger.

Bayern were left in the lurch as Yussuf Poulsen equalised in the 95th minute against RB Leipzig. It was a less than heroic end for the team that has dominated German football for the past decade. It was the clearest sign yet that the absolute dominance of the "Gray Tigers" is no longer intact.

Meanwhile, since October 2022, Xabi Alonso has written a modern fairy tale at BayArena. From a team second to last in the table, struggling to stay in the league, Alonso has turned Leverkusen into the most formidable force in the Bundesliga. With a modern playing philosophy, combining tight ball control and sharp counter-attacks, Leverkusen are not just opponents - they have become Bayern's obsession.

No one expected "Die Werkself" to win the Bundesliga in 2023/24 and take this season's title race to the final rounds, especially when their opponents are a powerful Bayern Munich with Harry Kane, Jamal Musiala and a series of world-class stars. No team has been able to do this since the golden age of Borussia Dortmund under Jürgen Klopp - a decade ago.

Xabi Alonso is believed to be leaving Leverkusen for Bayern Munich.

But the tragedy of modern football is that fairy tales are often short-lived. And Leverkusen are in danger of losing the architect of their success.

"We had him for two years, but whether we can have him for a third year is not my business. Anyway, we had a great time," Granit Xhaka exclaimed.

Xhaka’s words were more than just a casual statement. They were the sighs of a captain who saw the storm coming. Xhaka knew that Leverkusen’s success was tied to Alonso, and as rumours grew that the Spaniard would replace Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid, his unease grew more palpable.

The team has not been able to maintain a consistent performance since these rumors appeared. From being eliminated from the Champions League by Bayern to the regrettable draws in recent rounds - all are signs of a team that is losing direction as the future becomes uncertain.

If Alonso is Leverkusen's brain, Florian Wirtz is its heart. The young talent has become a symbol of the creative, daring style of play that Alonso has built. Every time Wirtz touches the ball, people see a spark of genius - a genius that Bayern Munich are eyeing.

Wirtz's stunning goal from outside the box against Freiburg was a testament to his exceptional talent, but it was his miss against Bayern in February that proved to be the turning point of the season. A missed shot changed the course of the title race.

Bayern are quietly preparing to sign Wirtz (left).

Bayern are quietly preparing to sign Wirtz, with the prospect of pairing him with Musiala - the most talented young duo in German football at the moment. If this happens, it will not be just a normal transfer, but the final blow to this race.

When history repeats itself

The Leverkusen-Bayern saga is not new in German football. Dortmund were Bayern's fiercest rivals under Klopp, but they also saw Mario Götze, Robert Lewandowski and Mats Hummels leave. Leverkusen's story is following an equally painful pattern.

Bayern Munich are more than just a football team - they are a talent vacuum. When a rival emerges, they not only fight on the pitch but also in the transfer office. The strategy of "weakening the opponent through player purchases" has long been their trademark, and Wirtz could be next.

The above makes the confrontation between Bayern and Leverkusen may not even become an era that is already facing its end. The Bundesliga situation is at risk of returning to the era of Bayern's sole dominance, not because they are too strong, but because opponents cannot retain key players.

If Alonso leaves, Leverkusen will lose their tactical soul. If Wirtz follows him to Real Madrid or Bayern, they will lose their brightest star. And then the Bundesliga title race will return to the familiar scenario: Bayern won the title in March, and the rest is just formality.

Bundesliga continues to be Bayern Munich's game.

The big question now is not whether Leverkusen can beat Bayern to the title. The question is: can the Bundesliga retain the players capable of challenging Bayern?

In modern football, competition is the lifeblood of any league. The Premier League is attractive because of the "Big Six", La Liga is attractive because of the confrontation between Real Madrid and Barcelona. The Bundesliga needs opponents worthy of Bayern to avoid becoming a "one-horse league".

But if they cannot keep Alonso and Wirtz, Leverkusen will find it difficult to maintain their current position. And that will be a loss not only for the team, but for German football as a whole.

On Sunday, in a fancy restaurant in Munich, as Bayern’s players let out a sigh of relief, they may have realized something: victories are much more meaningful when they are actually fought for. And if Alonso and Wirtz leave, future victories will not feel so sweet.

The Bundesliga is in danger of losing one of its most exciting rivalries. And that is a pity for all those who love German football.

Because, as we all know, football is best when there is competition. And the rivalry between Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen is in danger of ending before it really begins.

Source: https://znews.vn/dau-cham-het-cho-ky-nguyen-doi-dau-bayern-leverkusen-post1551305.html