Wed Mar 05 18:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Leverkusen Legend Kirsten Predicts Champions League Upset Over Bayern

**Munich, Germany** – Ulf Kirsten, Bayer Leverkusen’s all-time leading scorer with 181 goals, believes his former club has a real chance to upset Bayern Munich in their Champions League quarter-final clash. In a rare interview with SPORT1, the 59-year-old, now working in marketing for Dynamo Dresden, analyzed the upcoming showdown.

Kirsten acknowledged Bayern’s prowess but highlighted Leverkusen’s superior current form and attractive playing style. “Bayer is a bit ahead in terms of playing style,” he stated, citing their recent dominant performance against Frankfurt. While praising Bayern’s ability to deliver results even when their play isn’t flawless, Kirsten emphasized Leverkusen’s resurgence after a slow start to the season. He attributed this to their exceptional squad and the natural drop-off after last season’s highly successful campaign.

The interview also touched upon several key talking points:

* **Joshua Kimmich’s contract situation:** Kirsten believes Bayern’s withdrawal of their contract offer to Kimmich is a strong signal, but hopes a resolution will be found. He considers Kimmich’s potential departure a significant loss for the Bundesliga.

* **Florian Wirtz’s future:** Kirsten hopes Wirtz remains at Leverkusen for another year, calling him a “game-changer” and a “valuable individualist.” He doesn’t believe Wirtz’s future hinges on Xabi Alonso’s continued tenure as manager. He acknowledged Bayern’s interest in Wirtz as expected, but doesn’t see it negatively impacting Leverkusen. He also downplayed Lothar Matthäus’ criticism of Karl-Heinz Rummenigge’s assertion that Wirtz is the best German player, suggesting Jamal Musiala should rise above such comparisons.

* **Xabi Alonso’s tactical decisions:** Kirsten believes Alonso’s decision not to deploy a classic number nine against Bayern in a previous match cost them the victory, suggesting an earlier substitution of Patrik Schick or Victor Boniface would have made a difference. He also commented on Boniface’s frustration after a failed transfer to Al-Nassr, advising him to improve his fitness and performance.

* **The Match Prediction:** Despite Markus Babbel’s prediction of a 4-0 or 5-0 Bayern victory, Kirsten confidently predicts a Leverkusen win, capitalizing on their unbeaten record against Bayern under Alonso and a slight psychological advantage.

Kirsten’s assessment paints a picture of a confident Leverkusen side ready to challenge Bayern for a place in the Champions League semi-finals. The match promises to be a captivating encounter between two of Germany’s footballing giants.

Read More