Granit Xhaka helped Bayer Leverkusen to a vital win over Bayern Munich and former Spurs stars Harry Kane and Eric Dier on Saturday.

LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY: Granit Xhaka, Jonas Hofmann and Josip Stanisic of Bayer Leverkusen celebrate following the team's victory during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern München at BayArena on February 10, 2024. (Photo by Leon Kuegeler/Getty Images)
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY: Granit Xhaka, Jonas Hofmann and Josip Stanisic of Bayer Leverkusen celebrate following the team’s victory during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern München at BayArena on February 10, 2024. (Photo by Leon Kuegeler/Getty Images)

Even Granit Xhaka himself would probably admit that Bayer Leverkusen have been significantly more successful this season so far than he could have predicted following his summer transfer.

Going into this weekend, Leverkusen were still unbeaten in all competitions, winning 16 and drawing four league games, winning all six Europa League group games, and winning four DFB-Pokal matches to reach the German cup semi-finals.

But Leverkusen had their biggest test for a while in the form of title rivals Bayern Munich, who visited Leverkusen’s home ground on Saturday.

LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY: Granit Xhaka of Bayer Leverkusen battles for possession with Jamal Musiala of Bayern Munich during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern München at BayArena on February 10, 2024. (Photo by Leon Kuegeler/Getty Images)
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY: Granit Xhaka of Bayer Leverkusen battles for possession with Jamal Musiala of Bayern Munich during the Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern München at BayArena on February 10, 2024. (Photo by Leon Kuegeler/Getty Images)

The two teams had met earlier in the season, drawing 2-2 at the Allianz Arena. But if Leverkusen were serious about winning the Bundesliga title, they really needed to secure a home win over last year’s league champions.

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Former Gunner Xhaka started the match, and he was facing down a couple of old foes in Harry Kane and Eric Dier, both formerly of Tottenham Hotspur.

Xhaka won four of his last five games with Arsenal against Spurs, so the former Spurs men were probably getting a little sick of the sight of him. Saturday’s match did nothing to change that.

Leverkusen ended up winning 3-0, but the result wasn’t a fluke, or an unfair reflection of the contest.

The home side outshot their opponents by eight shots on target to one, racking up 1.76 expected goals to Bayern’s 0.27. They more than earned the three points.

Bayer Leverkusen's Granit Xhaka (C) and Bayern Munich's Leon Goretzka (R) vie for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern Munich in Leverkusen, western Germany on February 10, 2024. (Photo by SASCHA SCHUERMANN/AFP via Getty Images)
Bayer Leverkusen’s Granit Xhaka (C) and Bayern Munich’s Leon Goretzka (R) vie for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern Munich in Leverkusen, western Germany on February 10, 2024. (Photo by SASCHA SCHUERMANN/AFP via Getty Images)

Xhaka won plenty of praise for his performance, and he’s helped his new team get well on their way to one or two trophies.

Bayer Leverkusen sit five points clear of Bayern, with 13 games to go. Now they just have to see the season out.

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