Bayern vs. Leverkusen Preview: Contenders vs. Pretenders?!

Wait a second! Who are currently at the top of the Bundesliga table? It must be Bayern! Wait...no...it's Leverkusen!

My opening statement pretty much sums it all up. While Bayern are heading downwards, Leverkusen are heading upwards.

This weekend is far more than a clash for three points. Bayern will be out to prove a point. They will be out to prove that they will forever be the team to best out any other side in the Bundesliga while Leverkusen will be out to prove that they are a lot more than "Neverkusen."

Bayern: It's time for a change

I have always known in life that there is always some peace after a lot of turmoil. Bayern proved me wrong again. I thought that the winter break would finally bring some peace to the Allianz Arena, but Uli Hoeness made sure that I was wrong. He came out and said that Louis Van Gaal must not take matters into his own hands.

Van Gaal hasn't done much favours to himself by constantly changing the lineup every match day, but this also had to do with the fact that a lot of Bayern players were injured. Currently Arjen Robben is back after a layoff but will most probably not start.

What is guaranteed, though, is that Thomas Muller will start. Perhaps, the best thing after Toni Kroos in Bavaria is this young lad. He is a born fighter and will fight till the death. A lot of what will happen in this match wil be down to the defence behind Muller.

Philipp Lahm and Daniel Pranjic will have to stay back (forget Braafheid!) to stop either Toni Kroos or Tranquillo Barnetta from exploiting the gaps they might leave behind.

On the other hand Muller and Schweinsteiger will have to try and score because I can bet on the fact that the Bayern strikers will not be scoring against Bayer's resolute defence (unless you convert Daniel van Buyten to one, of course).

Leverkusen: It's time to get rid of the label "Neverkusen"!

Hans Joerg Butt mentioned that the only Bayer player he is in contact with is Simon Rolfes since he left in 2007. This reflects the revolution of new blood at Bayer. Bayer is now a disciplined team simmering with talent at almost every point. Even with Simon Rolfes, Patrick Helmes and Renato Augusto all out due to injuries, the team is coming out on top in most of its games.

Jupp Heynckes has finally, or at least hopefully, gotten the best out of a team that has always had talent but never had the power to shine on the big stage. This statement from Miroslav Klose will perhaps best sum up the Bayer of recent years:

"They're a good side, they play well and have some good players in the squad. Under Bruno Labbadia they were also a good team. But you've got to be consistently good across the season."

This year could finally be Bayer's time to shine.

Toni Kroos is still under contract with Bayern and he will know how to get to the Bayern wing backs. Bayern's defence has its disadvantages, and Kiessling or Derdiyok will be able to get past Daniel van Buyten or Martin Demichellis with fair ease. It might be strange to say this, but the toughest link to break down in the Bayern defence might actually turn out to be Holger Badstuber!

Predicted lineups

A big question mark hangs over whether Miroslav Klose or Ivica Olic will be in the squad for Bayern. Frank Ribery is definitely out alongside Andreas Goerlitz.

Lineup: Hans Joerg Butt- Philipp Lahm, Daniel Van Buyten, Martin Demichelis, Holger Badstubber- Mark Van Bommel, Hamit Altintop- Thomas Muller, Bastian Schweinsteiger- Mario Gomez, Miroslav Klose.

Bayer's injury list is evergrowing. Simon Rolfes, Patrick Helmes, Michael Kadlec, Renato Augusto, Pierre de Wit and Benedikt Fernandez are all out with injuries.

Lineup: Rene Adler- Daniel Schwaab, Manuel Friedrich, Sami Hyppia, Gonzalo Castro- Arturo Vidal, Bastian Reinartz- Toni Kroos, Tranquillo Barnetta- Stefan Kiessling, Eren Derdiyok.

Prediction

Leverkusen haven't lost over their last five matches, but they did draw three of them. Bayern drew two of their last five matches. Both teams won two of their last five matches (Bayern lost the other game). Leverkusen haven't beaten Bayern since 1989 at Bayern's home ground. Klose and his Bayern side also know that they will be nine points off the top if they lose this week.

Bayern will come up with something to get out of this situation, but looking at Leverkusen recently, they might just have the power to battle this one out.

Bayern 1-1 Bayer Leverkusen.