BERLIN March 29, 2025: With eight Bundesliga games left, Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso vowed his team would "fight until the end" in their pursuit of league leaders Bayern Munich.
Defending champions Leverkusen host 16th-placed Bochum on Friday and could close the gap to three points with a win. A day later, Bayern take on St. Pauli, who sit one spot above Bochum but hold a five-point advantage.
Typically reserved, Alonso was assertive in his pre-match press conference, emphasizing the significance of the upcoming fixture: "This game is super important… Our goal is clear—to fight until the end. We can cut Bayern’s lead to three points tomorrow. We want to put as much pressure on them as possible."
Leverkusen’s dramatic 4-3 comeback victory over Stuttgart two weeks ago, where they overturned a 3-1 deficit with a stoppage-time winner, was reminiscent of last season’s title-winning resilience. Alonso also provided an update on injured midfielder Florian Wirtz, initially expected to return in April, hinting that his comeback may come sooner: "He feels better. He’s close. We don’t want to be conservative with Flo—we want to go full throttle and take risks. If he can return earlier, we’ll take that risk."
Despite their lowly positions, Bochum and St. Pauli could present challenges. Bochum, under Dieter Hecking since November, have beaten Bayern and Borussia Dortmund while securing draws against Leverkusen and RB Leipzig. Hecking, who has overseen 19 of Bochum’s 20 points this season, has extended his contract until 2027, contingent on avoiding relegation.
St. Pauli, meanwhile, have built their survival bid on a resolute defense, conceding just 30 goals this season—better than all Bundesliga teams except Bayern and surprise contenders Mainz. In November, Bayern needed a stunning Jamal Musiala strike to edge past them in a 1-0 win. Bayern’s task is further complicated by the long-term injuries of Alphonso Davies and Dayot Upamecano, who are likely out for the season following setbacks during international duty.
In the summer, Stuttgart spent a combined €48 million ($51 million) on strikers Deniz Undav and Ermedin Demirovic, but their most impactful forward, Nick Woltemade, arrived on a free transfer from Werder Bremen. The 1.98-meter striker, initially expected to be third-choice, has emerged as Stuttgart’s most reliable goal source, scoring eight times in his last 14 league appearances. His recent hat-trick for Germany’s Under-21 side against Spain has sparked media speculation about a senior team call-up. When asked if he would prefer playing in the U21 European Championship or for Julian Nagelsmann’s senior squad in June’s Nations League, Woltemade responded: "I don’t think they overlap… I’ve got enough power for both."
Key Stats:
- 1 – Stuttgart have won just one of their last eight league games.
- 3 – Augsburg have conceded only three goals in 2025, the lowest in Europe’s top five leagues, with their last league goal conceded on February 1.
- 4 – Borussia Dortmund are winless in their last four meetings with Mainz, including the infamous 2-2 draw on the final day of the 2023 season that handed Bayern the title.
Fixtures (1430 GMT unless stated)
Friday:
- Bayer Leverkusen v Bochum (1930)
Saturday:
- Bayern Munich v St. Pauli
- Holstein Kiel v Werder Bremen
- Borussia Moenchengladbach v RB Leipzig
- Wolfsburg v Heidenheim
- Hoffenheim v Augsburg
- Eintracht Frankfurt v Stuttgart (1730)
Sunday:
- Freiburg v Union Berlin
- Borussia Dortmund v Mainz (1630)