Bayer Leverkusen welcome Borussia Dortmund on Sunday with the hosts sitting clear atop the Bundesliga desk, having dropped simply two of a doable 36 factors to begin the season. Although solely two factors forward of a Harry Kane-powered Bayern Munich, Leverkusen are already a whopping ten factors in entrance of Dortmund, with solely 12 matches performed. While many have credited supervisor Xabi Alonso for giving Leverkusen’s long-suffering followers hope of including to a sparse trophy cupboard, a shrewd summer season recruitment drive has additionally set them up for fulfillment.

Using the proceeds of Moussa Diaby’s sale to Aston Villa, Leverkusen introduced in striker Victor Boniface, winger Jonas Hofmann, midfielder Granit Xhaka, whereas Alex Grimaldo joined from Benfica on a free.

Alonso hailed the summer season additions’ “football intelligence”, telling AFP and different media in an interview “we knew they were going to have an almost instant influence on our game”.

“We have signed very strategic players to give us stability… to be more efficient and consistent. That gives you the possibility to be more regular in the Bundesliga.”

Since the switch window closed, German media has reported that every of the quartet had been rejected by Dortmund in the summertime — aside from Hofmann, who had two earlier stints at Signal Iduna Park.

Criticism has grown, significantly with Dortmund’s new additions Felix Nmecha, Marcel Sabitzer and Ramy Bensebaini displaying detached type and failing to fill the hole left by budding celebrity Jude Bellingham.

The architect of Leverkusen’s summer season switch window, sporting director Simon Rolfes, had his contract prolonged to 2028 on Tuesday, a mirrored image of the previous participant’s efforts.

Rolfes, who performed 377 occasions for Leverkusen, stated his aspect had “gained enormous quality” and was proud to have prolonged at “a demanding, modern club hungry for success.”

Leverkusen’s brightest star, Germany midfield maestro Florian Wirtz, was rested for Thursday’s Europa League journey to Swedish aspect BK Hacken — a mirrored image of Sunday’s significance to the league leaders.

There is extra at stake for Dortmund than simply dropping contact with the league leaders.

Alongside RB Leipzig, who’ve received the previous two German Cups, Dortmund have been the group almost certainly to interrupt the champions’ dominance — doubtless making Leverkusen’s beautiful emergence as ‘Bayern hunters’ much more of a difficulty for the guests on Sunday.

“This is the most difficult task in Germany at the moment,” stated Dortmund defender Mats Hummels on Tuesday concerning the journey to Leverkusen.

“We need to stand our ground.”

One to look at: Serhou Guirassy (Stuttgart)

Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy is about to make his first begin since October, coming back from a hamstring damage at dwelling towards Werder Bremen on Saturday.

The 27-year-old has 15 objectives in ten matches, scoring at an unimaginable strike fee of 1 objective per 46 minutes this season.

The damage didn’t cease Guirassy’s beautiful type nonetheless, with the France-born Guinea ahead coming off the bench to attain the successful penalty towards Dortmund earlier in November.

In his absence, Brighton loanee Deniz Undav has stepped up, scoring six objectives in his previous six matches.

Stuttgart supervisor Sebastian Hoeness confirmed on Thursday “they will both be in the starting XI against Bremen. I’m looking forward to the double-pronged attack”.

Key stats

Zero from eight: Union Berlin have by no means crushed Bayern however have drawn three of eight — all with a 1-1 scoreline.

18: Harry Kane has 18 objectives from 12 league video games this season.

Nine of 17: Denmark striker Jonas Wind has scored 9 of Wolfsburg’s 17 objectives this season, greater than half.

Fixtures (1430 GMT except acknowledged)

Friday

Darmstadt v Cologne (1930)

Saturday

Bochum v Wolfsburg, RB Leipzig v Heidenheim, Bayern Munich v Union Berlin, Borussia Moenchengladbach v Hoffenheim, Stuttgart v Werder Bremen (1730)

Sunday

Mainz v Freiburg, Bayer Leverkusen v Borussia Dortmund (1630), Augsburg v Eintracht Frankfurt (1830)