In the top 5 European football leagues, only three teams—Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, and Nice—have maintained an undefeated status in their respective leagues. When considering all competitions, only Bayer Leverkusen and Nice have avoided defeat this season, as Bayern Munich faced losses in the DFL-Supercup and DFB-Pokal. Bayern Munich and PSG were expected to dominate the Bundesliga and Ligue 1 respectively, but currently, both leagues are led by Bayer Leverkusen and Nice, teams not initially expected to be at the top. Although it’s still early in the season, it’s crucial to acknowledge that we’re already more than a quarter into each league season, making these developments noteworthy. These two teams reaching the top of the league is intriguing because they’ve adopted contrasting strategies. Bayer Leverkusen boasts the best attack in Europe, recently hitting the 50-goal milestone with a 3-2 victory over Hoffenheim. On the defensive front, Nice has been stellar, conceding only 4 goals all season and keeping clean sheets in 8 of their 11 games, while establishing themselves as the best defensive team in Europe. In this piece, we’ll delve into the details of how these two sides have gone about their business, provide insights into betting tips, highlight various betting offers for our online sports betting community, and ponder the sustainability of their current success. **Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen** The groundwork for Leverkusen’s current successful season was laid last season and carefully tended to during the summer transfer window. Xabi Alonso, renowned for his accomplishments in winning Champions League titles with Liverpool and Real Madrid, as well as the EUROs and FIFA World Cup with Spain, took on the managerial role in October last season. Despite limited managerial experience, having coached the Real Madrid youth team and Real Sociedad B team, he faced the challenge of steering Leverkusen away from relegation when they were languishing in 17th position. In a matter of weeks, the team underwent a remarkable transformation. Leverkusen’s distinct style, characterized by ball retention and dynamic wing play, became apparent as they started accumulating points. Xabi Alonso earned 1.7 points per game - the same as a certain Jürgen Klopp for Dortmund - and Leverkusen would eventually rise to finish in 6th position in the Bundesliga. In the summer, Leverkusen made strategic signings, prioritizing players with versatility who could seamlessly transition between positions based on the game’s context. Álex Grimaldo, Granit Xhaka, Jonas Hofmann, and Victor Boniface were key acquisitions, each seamlessly integrating into the starting lineup. Grimaldo, excelling on the left, has been a force in both attack and defense, boasting an impressive tally of 7 goals and 5 assists this season despite his primary defensive role. Meanwhile, Hofmann, has matched Grimaldo’s offensive contributions with 7 goals and 5 assists of his own, though his is less surprising seeing as he’s a winger. Granit Xhaka, playing a pivotal “Xabi Alonso” role, serves as the crucial link between midfield and attack. Leading the league in progressive passes with 98, he also maintains a remarkable passing accuracy of over 93% for short and medium passes, and ranks in the Top 3 for long pass accuracy. This transformation in passing precision has propelled Leverkusen from the 5th position in passing last season to an impressive #1 rank this year. Then there’s the man that puts all this good stuff together - Victor Boniface. The Nigerian striker has had an outstanding start to his Leverkusen career with 11 goals and 6 assists in just 15 games and leads the Bundesliga in shot attempts (57), ahead of Harry Kane (41), Leroy Sané (31), and Serhou Guirassy (30). With the return to full fitness of Florian Wirtz, arguably the best young German alongside Jamal Musiala, this Leverkusen attack looks like a well-oiled machine. Bayern Munich’s DFB-Pokal exit also means that Leverkusen are now favorites to win the competition.
The team’s remarkable run includes winning their last 10 games in all competitions, marking the best streak of consecutive victories since their Bundesliga promotion in 1979. Being the first European team to reach the 50-goal mark this season, they’ve scored over 1.5 goals in all but one game and have scored over 2.5 goals in 12 out of 17 games across all competitions. One of our betting tips today is to consistently wager on Leverkusen scoring **Over 1.5 Goals** per game (especially at home) or to bet on their matches to produce **Over 2.5 Goals** , with **BetKing** offering the best odds among all betting sites. ● [Click here to bet on Bayer Leverkusen Games in the Bundesliga](https://m.betking.com/sports/events/prematch/football/germany/bundesliga) **Francesco Farioli’s OGC Nice** Francesco Farioli may not be a household name in football like Xabi Alonso, but his journey is unique. Unlike Alonso, Farioli doesn’t have a background as a professional player; he’s what many would call a football-nerd turned coach. His rise to prominence began with his written analytical piece on Italian side Foggia, coached by Roberto De Zerbi from 2014 to 2016. Impressed by Farioli’s insights, De Zerbi offered him a coaching role at Benevento, and later brought him to Sassuolo. Farioli’s career has seen him traverse international landscapes, from Qatar to Turkey, where he became the youngest manager in Europe at just 31 years old while at Fatih Karagümrük. Now, he finds himself at OGC Nice, continuing his journey as a football tactician. Francesco Farioli wasted no time implementing his vision after taking the reins at Nice in June. Despite facing budget constraints, he made strategic moves to revamp the squad. Aging players deemed surplus were released, with the likes of Ross Barkley, Aaron Ramsey, Kasper Schmeichel, and Morgan Schneiderlin departing on free transfers. Farioli focused on reinforcing the team with adept ball carriers who aligned with his football philosophy. Morgan Sanson arrived from Aston Villa, and Jérémie Boga, recognized as one of Europe’s top 1v1 wingers based on statistics, joined from Atalanta. Following a successful loan stint in January, Terem Moffi, another Nigerian talent, had his move made permanent, becoming the spearhead of the team—a parallel to the situation in Leverkusen. ● [Click here to bet on OGC Nice Games in Ligue 1](https://m.betking.com/sports/events/prematch/football/france/ligue-1) It seems Farioli and De Zerbi share a playbook, especially in their patient buildup play with a focus on involving defenders. In the Premier League, Brighton’s Lewis Dunk tops the charts with 1,144 passes—over 200 more than the second-placed Rodri (924). The correlation is clear in Nice’s Ligue 1 campaign as well, where center-backs Dante and Jean-Claude Todibo rank 2nd and 5th, respectively, in completed passes, highlighting their significant role in orchestrating the team’s buildup phase. Nice’s defensive approach under Farioli sets them apart, particularly in how they adapt without possession. Highly rated Defensive Midfielder, Youssouf Ndayishimiye often drops between Dante and Jean-Claude Todibo, transforming the formation into a back-three. Leveraging their strength in the midfield, they strategically press opponents to funnel their attacks through the middle, where they hold the advantage. This tactical approach has proven successful, with only Lille, Lorient, and PSG breaching their defense so far. The last time Nice had a start this good, they finished 3rd and having already played Lille, Lyon, Monaco, PSG, and Marseille - the 5 most recognizable Ligue 1 clubs outside of France - they are a team full of confidence in themselves and what they can achieve.
**Are These Great Starts Sustainable?** Only time will tell if both teams can go all the way. A significant challenge for both teams arises in January when their Nigerian strikers, Victor Boniface and Terem Moffi, depart for the AFCON. Their absence for a month, being key players, is expected to affect the teams, and while the January transfer window provides an opportunity for short-term solutions, it remains a concern. Another potential obstacle lies in Cup Competitions. Cup competitions can be double-edged swords, providing an opportunity for success, but also potentially affecting league form. For Bayer Leverkusen, deep runs in the Europa League and DFB-Pokal could do just that, as they lack the squad depth of their closest rival, Bayern Munich. Similarly, Nice faces a depth issue, particularly if injuries take a toll. Reflecting on Leicester City’s fairytale 2015-16 season, early exits in cup competitions - the League Cup in October and the FA Cup in the 3rd Round (January) - proved advantageous, sparing their thin squad from excessive strain in the Premier League title race. As we’re just a little over a quarter into the season, there’s ample drama ahead. However, despite these challenges, both teams have showcased early promise, instilling belief in their potential.
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