Photo by Christina Pahnke - sampics/Corbis via Getty Images

Bayern Munich has real competition in the Bundesliga. Bayer Leverkusen has been exceptional this season in the Bundesliga, as the Xabi Alonso-led side entered the Winterpause in first place.
With a mix of young, hungry players and ambitious veterans, Die Werkself is perfectly set up to be a thorn in the side of Bayern Munich.
Uli Hoeneß, a legend at the Bavarian club, can look at Bayer Leverkusen and see that the squad means business every time it takes the pitch.
?I think Bayer Leverkusen in particular is an opponent that needs to be taken very seriously. Leipzig also still have a chance. With Stuttgart we have to see, Dortmund probably not. With Leverkusen in particular and a bit with Leipzig, we have opponents where we can?t celebrate the title at Easter. And that?s not bad for German football as a whole,? Hoeneß told Servus Nachrichten (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). A strong start was vital for Leverkusen, but it remains to be seen if the team can hold strong through what should be a tightly-contested second half of the season. Bayern Munich will have to work for it, if the squad wants to add yet another trophy to their cabinet.

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