Why you should watch Bayer Leverkusen matches every week

Bayer Leverkusen could do what Borussia Dortmund has failed to do for several seasons: Beat Bayern Munich to win the German Bundesliga.

When they made Xabi Alonso their manager last term, the ex-midfielder was a gamble, having only been the manager of a B team in Spain.

As a player, Alonso was one of the world's best midfielders during spells at Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

That does not make it automatic for him to succeed as a manager, but he worked under some of the best coaches in the world and certainly paid attention.

Alonso was one of the smoothest operators during his playing days, delivering terrific performances as a deep-lying playmaker and in other midfield roles.

Many managers, including Rafa Benitez at Liverpool and Pep Guardiola at Bayer Munich, coached him.

These two bosses offer different types of play, with Benitez being a more defensive boss, while Pep is arguably the best coach we have ever seen in football, and he currently manages Man City.

Alonso was under the guidance of the best coaches, and this is one reason the ex-midfielder is doing so well on Leverkusen's bench.

His team is one of a few sides unbeaten in all competitions in Europe at the start of November.

They are also atop the league standings in Germany, keeping Bayern Munich behind them every weekend as they have forgotten how to lose a game.

Leverkusen is earning these results based on merit as one of the well-trained sides on the continent that also has an excellent mindset on and off the pitch.

Why have they been so good, and why do you have to buy Bayer Leverkusen tickets to their games every week?

A winning mindset

Bayer has traditionally been one of the German sides struggling to get close to Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich in their league.

For decades, they have struggled to make any meaningful impact in the German top flight as one of the teams to follow.

They have also struggled with keeping their best players and maintaining a good culture, which makes it hard for them to do well in the league and Europe.

But in the last year, Xabi Alonso has changed the culture at the club and made them feel unstoppable.

In the Bundesliga, there has hardly been a club that has threatened Bayern Munich's dominance of the league as they have done.

Bayern is like the PSG of German football, and their dominance of the competition has created an inferiority complex in the minds of the other teams in the league.

This has made it difficult for any side to come close to beating them to the league title, leaving them to win every other season.

Alonso has used the last year to change the culture at Bayer and his team now plays with a winning mindset and a swagger that sets them apart from even the Borussia Dortmund team.

Exciting young players.

Bayer is famed for grooming some of the finest talents in German football, with some of their former players including Kai Havertz and Leon Baily.

Although they do not have the budget of BVB and Bayern Munich, Bayer has made a few good signings recently.

Their current squad has some of the most exciting young players in Europe, with the likes of Victor Boniface, Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Nathan Tella, Piero Hincapie, and Adam Hlozek, among others.

The top clubs in Europe are courting these footballers because they have proven to be top talents who can do well against opponents.

We expect these players to shine in their upcoming matches against Werder Bremen, Borussia Dortmund and Molde FK.

Youngsters may not win you trophies as it is common knowledge in football, but Bayer has the right balance of young and old players, with the likes of Granit Xhaka, Alex Grimaldo and Patrik Schick guiding the younger members of the group.

Bayer Leverkusen Matches you don't want to miss

Bayer has some crucial matches to play in the next few weeks, and lovers of good football will want to see these games.

It starts with the game against Werder Bremen. Bremen is returning to its feet after a terrible start to the season and the match will be a must-win for them.

This is why they will do all they can to ensure they can stop Bayer from continuing to top the German league standings.

Their match against Borussia Dortmund at the start of December is another tricky fixture that we expect to be eye-catching.

Bayer has replaced BVB as the primary challenger to Bayern's crown this term and this game will confirm if Alonso's team is prepared to be champions.

They will also have some European commitments before this year ends and the match against Molde will be exciting, even though they will likely have qualified as group winners already.

Positive attacking tactics

Xabi Alonso has developed his managerial acumen by playing under some of the finest managers in the world.

The former midfielder is like a hybrid as he has worked with defensive coaches, attacking managers and conservative bosses.

These experiences have shaped him into a coach who can provide the right balance for his team.

But he has chosen a very positive approach to the game, and Bayer is a very positive attacking team.

They are a side that has forgotten how to lose matches, and this is mostly down to the positive tactical orientation they have.

Watching Leverkusen play football is refreshing and exciting as they play with pace and precision, focusing a lot on holding possession and breaking as soon as there is an opening.

Even against the most formidable opponents, they did not give up these principles and showed Bayern Munich how devastating they could be when both clubs met earlier in the season.

German clubs are not as defensive as their counterparts in Italian football, but Bayer has added a new type of positivity to their game, and it sets them apart from the other clubs in the league. Could this be their year? 

Great atmosphere during home games

Home games at the BayArena have become more enjoyable as Bayer is at the cusp of ending their wait for a league title.

Their fans have watched Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich dominate the German league for decades, but their current team seems prepared to fight for the league title.

This motivates them to provide one of the best atmospheres in European football in every home game.

They know their dreams can come true if they provide the players with the right support, especially in home games, and this makes their home games a fixture every football lover wants to attend.

Leverkusen made an intelligent choice by appointing Alonso as their manager, and the ex-midfielder is putting smiles back on their faces.

It will be tough to unseat Bayern Munich as the champions of Germany, but Bayer has made a fantastic start to the campaign.

They have the players and manager to maintain this, and it makes every game they play a match to watch as we all look to see how long they can remain unbeaten.