Rolfes: Our quality matches our ambition

Bayer Leverkusen are the side to watch in the Bundesliga at present. The men from the German Rhineland are far and away the best team of the second half of the league programme and currently lie second, only five points behind leaders Borussia Dortmund, who were fully 12 points clear just five games ago.
Now, with five matchdays remaining, Die Werkself (the works team) are poised to claim a direct qualifying spot for next season’s UEFA Champions League, potentially returning to the elite competition they last graced in 2004/05. Nearest rivals Hannover and Bayern Munich are eight and nine points adrift respectively of the side coached by Jupp Heynckes, who will leave Bayer this summer to take the vacant Bayern helm.
In a twist of fate typical of football, Bayer now travel to face Bayern in the Bavarian capital this Sunday. The home side are desperate for a win as they scramble to present Heynckes with Champions League football next term, but a first victory in Munich for Leverkusen since 1989/90 would enable Don Jupp’s current club to up the pressure on one-time runaway leaders Dortmund.