Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Sitting third in the Bundesliga, Bayer 04 Leverkusen occupy territory that should feel familiar—yet everything about this season feels foreign to Die Werkself. The defending champions, who last year authored history by completing the first-ever unbeaten Bundesliga campaign, have now tasted defeat eight times in the league, a jarring comedown from their previous perfection. Their recent form captures this turbulence perfectly: following a spectacular 4-1 demolition of Leipzig and a confident 3-1 away triumph at Stuttgart, they stumbled to a frustrating 1-1 home draw against Hamburg, squandering precious momentum at the worst possible time. Christian Kofane has emerged as their primary attacking lifeline with 7 goals, while left-back Alejandro Grimaldo has been the revelation of the campaign—an unlikely top marksman whose 11 goals embody Xabi Alonso's revolutionary system that weaponizes defenders. With Aleix García anchoring midfield at an elite level and Loïc Badé marshaling the defense, Leverkusen remain within striking distance of continental qualification. But with a threadbare 13-man squad and time running out, their destiny hinges on rediscovering the ruthless consistency that made them immortal just one year ago.

Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen deploy a possession-based, high-pressing system that emphasizes quick transitions and fluid attacking movements through the channels, blending technical mastery with explosive counter-attacking threat.