Leverkusen's Unbeaten Stride and Bayern's Fading Grip
Week 23 of the Bundesliga schedule has come and gone, and Bayer Leverkusen just keeps on rolling. Xabi Alonso’s side put another three points on the board with a 2-1 win over Mainz 05, extending their unbeaten run across all competitions to 34 games. That’s a club record, by the way. They sit eight points clear at the top of the table with 61 points, a truly remarkable achievement given where they were just a couple of seasons ago.
Bayern Munich, meanwhile, hit another bump in the road. Their 2-1 loss to VfL Bochum in Week 22, followed by a shaky 2-1 win against RB Leipzig in Week 23, shows a team struggling for consistency. Harry Kane scored both goals against Leipzig, bringing his tally to 27 league goals, but it’s not enough to mask the defensive vulnerabilities. Bayern has now conceded in 10 of their last 12 league games. That's not title-winning form, not when you're chasing a team like Leverkusen.
Here's the thing: Bayern has won the last 11 Bundesliga titles. It's almost become a given. But this year feels different. Leverkusen's composure, especially in tight games like their recent victory against Mainz, speaks volumes. They aren't just winning; they're grinding out results when they need to, a hallmark of champions.
Surprises and Disappointments: Stuttgart Soaring, Union Struggling
VfB Stuttgart is the story of the season outside the title race. They're sitting third with 46 points after a dominant 2-1 win over Köln, a position few expected after they barely avoided relegation last year. Serhou Guirassy has been a revelation, bagging 18 goals in just 16 league appearances. His efficiency is off the charts. Manager Sebastian Hoeneß has transformed them into a genuine Champions League contender, and they’re doing it with a style that’s fun to watch.
And then there's Borussia Dortmund. They're fourth with 44 points, a decent position, but they haven't looked particularly convincing. Their 3-2 win against Hoffenheim in Week 23 was a rollercoaster. They've drawn too many games against lesser opposition, like the 0-0 against Heidenheim in Week 20. For a team with their talent and resources, a 17-point gap to first place is simply not good enough.
On the flip side, Union Berlin has been a massive disappointment. After qualifying for the Champions League last season, they're now languishing in 14th place with 25 points. They’ve only won one of their last five league games. The magic from last season has completely evaporated, and their goal difference of -17 tells you everything you need to know about their struggles at both ends of the pitch.
The Scrappy Relegation Battle
The bottom of the table is a real dogfight, as it often is in the Bundesliga. Darmstadt 98 looks doomed, frankly. They’re dead last with just 13 points, managing only two wins all season. Their defense has been abysmal, conceding a league-high 52 goals in 23 matches. It's tough to see a path to survival for them.
Köln is also in deep trouble, sitting 17th with 17 points. Their attack has been toothless, scoring just 16 goals all season – the lowest in the league. They need a serious turnaround in form, and fast, to avoid the drop.
Mainz 05, currently 17 points, is just above Köln in 17th. They’ve shown a bit more fight lately, drawing against Augsburg and beating Union Berlin in Week 21, but losing to Leverkusen still stings. Bochum, Gladbach, and Wolfsburg are all hovering dangerously close to the relegation playoff spot. Bochum's win over Bayern was huge, giving them some breathing room, but they're still only seven points clear of the automatic drop zone. It's going to be a nervy few weeks for several clubs in that bottom half.
I think the relegation battle will come down to who can find some consistent goal-scoring. Köln and Mainz both struggle to put the ball in the net, and that's usually a death sentence in this league.
Prediction for the Final Stretch
Look, I'm going out on a limb here, but I think this is Leverkusen's year. They've shown too much resilience, too much quality, and too much tactical flexibility under Alonso to falter now. The eight-point lead feels insurmountable for a Bayern team that's clearly not firing on all cylinders. Kane's goals are keeping them in it, but the rest of the team isn't holding up their end of the bargain.
By the time the final whistle blows on the season, I expect Bayer Leverkusen to be lifting the Meisterschale, probably with a comfortable five to six-point cushion over Bayern Munich. Stuttgart will hold onto third, securing Champions League football, while Dortmund will finish a distant fourth. As for relegation, Darmstadt is gone, and I predict Köln will join them in the 2. Bundesliga, with Mainz fighting its way into the playoff spot.