Daily Schmankerl: Leon Goretzka and Mats Hummels not dressed for Bayern; Bayer Leverkusen presents a challenge; and MORE!

Leon Goretzka and Mats Hummels won’t be available today (@FCBayern)

Just one game after a fantastic performance, Leon Goretzka is not dressing for today’s match against Bayer Leverkusen. Goretzka is dealing with a hip issue, which was previously not reported. The timing is unfortunate, but better to be safe than sorry so early in the season for the German international, who has fit in superbly with Bayern.

Mats Hummels is still recovering from an Achilles issue (listed as an ankle issue by Bayern), and Kingsley Coman is still out as well with his long-term injury.

Just a precaution @matshummels and Leon #Goretzka.

Hummels is missing due to ankle problems, Goretzka due to hip problems.

Bayer Leverkusen is better than they’ve shown (Bavarian Football Works)

As game time inches closer, Bayern Munich will get its first taste of dealing with a potent offense this season. Sure, looking at the previous results from the first two weeks of the Bundesliga should probably give most Bayern fans confidence, but Leverkusen is no pushover.

Die Roten will have to deal with the likes of Julian Brandt, Leon Bailey, Kevin Volland, Lucas Alario, Mitchell Weiser, and Jonathan Tah among others. Certainly Bayern is still the favorite, but Leverkusen has just the right amount of pace and skill to be a problem for any team — if it can right itself.

For whatever reason, Die Werkself has not been able to build off of the positive things that it did last season just yet. Whether it is a matter of the squad not gelling or Heiko Herrlich’s message becoming a bit stale, Leverkusen does not have many more weeks where it can lean on this just being a slow start.

Leverkusen should push Die Roten more than Bayern’s previous opposition has, but likely not enough to knock off the Bavarians.

Prediction: Bayern Munich 3, Bayer Leverkusen 1

A pregame photo from Iam Paul Joy (@JOYPAULIAN)

Bayern’s followup follow-up schedule post in response to AS Roma was classic (@FCBayernEN)

After yesterday’s creative AS Roma tweet, Bayern’s social media squad produced a very clever response.

A call for fan groups (BavarianFootballWorks.com)

We are trying something here at the Daily Schmankerl and need YOUR help. If you read my man Tommy Adams’ piece about his experience with the FCBNYC Fan Club (if you haven’t, SHAME ON YOU!), you could see how great the event was. So we want to highlight some of these wonderful groups that are out there globally and this is what we need from you:

• Name of the group
• Location
• Year founded
• Leadership (if you have people are kind of running the show)
• Meeting place
• Social media handles
• Pictures

We have 7 clubs on board so far. I’d LOVE to be able to feature a different fan group every week this season. Maybe we can do it, maybe not...but only YOU can help decide the fate of this idea. Send your info to: barrelsportsblog@gmail.com.