Xhaka looks ahead to Bayern clash: "We can play freely"
Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka has looked ahead to next week's big game against Bayern Munich.
Three games into the season, Bayer 04 Leverkusen sit atop the Bundesliga with maximum points and a goal difference of 11-3.
Next up for Xabi Alonso's men is Bayern Munich, who trail them on goal difference, and midfield lynchpin Granit Xhaka is looking forward to the challenge of facing the record-breaking champions on the road.
"Bayern Munich is still Bayern Munich. We have to show them respect, but without being afraid. We won't go to Munich now and defend for 90 minutes - at least I hope not," Xhaka told Kicker.
"We don't need to talk about the fact that Bayern have quality. In Harry Kane, they've got a bombastic striker, who can always be dangerous.
"We have taken nine points from the first three games in a really confident manner. Now we go to Munich and we can play freely. It's not that we've got nothing to lose, but we want to take something away even against such a strong team to see where we really stand."
Bayern and Leverkusen square off at the Allianz Arena on September 15 at 20:30.