Bayern Munich is at the top of the points table with 62 points. On the other hand, Leverkusen is in second position with 56 points, there is a gap of some points between the two teams at the moment, and both teams are preparing to face each other. I see that if Leverkusen wins today's match against Boshum, they can collect three points and get very close to Bayern Munich and they can compete in the future. Since Bayern Munich is currently 6 points ahead, and if Leverkusen can collect three points by winning their next match, the gap will be reduced. And whenever the gap between the two teams can return to power, there will be more excitement in that Bundesliga.
6 points is a distance that cannot be said to be close and also cannot be said to be far, so this is still something that might change with the remaining matches in the Bundesliga this season. Leverkusen itself is trying hard to catch up, and on the other hand Bayern Munich is on target to return the lost championship title in the previous season. Both teams must want the best, but in terms of results we cannot predict for sure, because they themselves will determine. And it is possible that luck also plays a role in a situation like this.I don't think there is much of a problem for Xabi Alonso. Because the expectations from him are already to finish the season in second place and finish the season closest to the championship in points. Since they had a much better season than expected last year, expectations from them had increased this year. But to tell the truth, that should have been the real goal. They are currently in second place and the real goal for Leverkusen is to finish the season in the top two. So I don't think he is a failure.
Although they failed to defend the title, in my opinion, what Xabi Alonso and his team were able to show was more than enough. They did not manage to maintain their good performance in the previous season, but they also did not show a significant decline so they were still able to be in 2nd place. One thing I believe is that defending is harder than winning the title. However, it is natural that their expectations are very high at the start of the season, because as a team with a status that is also defending, they will get the burden of expectations from many people.