Leverkusen against Dortmund and Wirtz against Brandt: This is the best German football has to offer

Even if you don't care about German football, you really should watch this game. Trust us!

Leverkusen, led by coach Xabi Alonso, have been exceptional in the Bundesliga this season, winning 11 out of 12 matches and currently holding the top spot. With an unbeaten record and seeking their seventh consecutive home victory, the team is proving to be a dominant force. For a team with such numbers, facing off against Borussia Dortmund will be quite an occasion - and two classy players will be in focus.

Dortmund star Julian Brandt had 165 Bundesliga appearances for Leverkusen before joining BVB in 2019. Tonight, he faces Florian Wirtz, the boy who's seen as his natural hair for the Aspirin makers.

Wirtz has defied the odds by making a successful comeback after a ten-month injury absence due to an anterior cruciate ligament tear in his left knee. Despite facing intermittent breaks in the past season, he is currently in great form, having started in eleven out of twelve Bundesliga matches. This has been a remarkable achievement for the 20-year-old, as injuries can often set back a young player in their development.

Leverkusen owes much of their strong start to the season to Wirtz, who occupies one of the two attacking positions behind centre-forward Victor Boniface in Werkself's 3-4-3 system. He has three goals and five assists in this Bundesliga campaign. He has averaged 34 sprints per 90 minutes, which is only surpassed by Bayer's regular player Jeremie Frimpong. Furthermore, the German national player has provided 31 shots on goal.

Julian Brandt is just as crucial for BVB as Wirtz is for Leverkusen. Brandt doesn't have a fixed position at BVB, as he's played in multiple positions, including as a striker, in the number ten role, on both left and right wings, and an eight and an offensive part of the double-six. Brandt is simply indispensable, having featured in all Bundesliga matches this season and starting in ten of them. At 27 years old, Brandt has the highest number of direct goal involvements at Borussia Dortmund, with nine involvements. He is the joint top scorer alongside Niclas Fullkrug and Donyell Malen, with four goals, and he is the sole top provider for the Borussians with five assists. Last year, he had 17 goal involvements (nine goals and eight assists), the highest at BVB.

Brandt is a highly productive player who covers 11.7 kilometres per 90 minutes and averages 30 sprints per game. His figures of 111.5 kilometres covered and 287 sprints are the best among Borussia Dortmund players. Previously considered an artist, Brandt has now become a true workhorse on the field.

Another former Dortmund player, who is now at Leverkusen, Jonas Hofmann, highlighted the team's adherence to Alonso's tactics, emphasizing their clinical execution and unwavering focus, especially after their recent 3-0 win against Werder Bremen. Wirtz, who was rested in the Europa League, is expected to shine tonight, and striker Boniface aims to end a goal drought and add to his seven goals so far.

Edin Terzic's Dortmund secured a place in the Champions League knockout stages with an impressive win at AC Milan, marking their third consecutive victory in the competition. The team, including goalscorers Marco Reus, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, and Karim Adeyemi, looks confident after a comeback win against Borussia Monchengladbach. However, they face Leverkusen amid an intense period and are missing Felix Nmecha due to a hip injury.

BUNDESLIGA - MATCHDAY 13

Friday

Darmstadt - Koln 0-1 (0-0)

/Selke 60/

Saturday

Borussia Monchengladbach - Hoffenheim 2-1 (0-0)

/Plea 58 pen, Ngoumou 80 - Weghorst 60/

Bochum - Wolfsburg 3-1 (2-1)

/Osterhage 19, Bernardo 39, Antwi-Adjei 87 - Svanberg 45+1/

RB Leipzig - Heidenheim 2-1 (2-1)

/Openda 29 pen, Poulsen 44 - Gimber 45+2/

Stuttgart - Werder 2-0 (1-0)

/Undav 17, Guirassy 75 pen/

Sunday

17:30: (2.40) Mainz (3.50) Freiburg (3.10)

19:30: (1.67) Leverkusen (4.10) Dortmund (5.40)

21:30: (2.85) Augsburg (3.50) Eintr.Frankfurt (2.55)

***odds are subject to change***