Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen delivered their most complete performance in the Bundesliga this season even though they failed to score after missing a bagful of chances on Friday in their goalless draw against visitors VfB Stuttgart, coach Xabi Alonso said.
Bayer Leverkusen's sloppy performance in their 2-2 draw at Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga on Saturday that included conceding a 90th minute equaliser was down to the German champions' weak defending, coach Xabi Alonso said.
After Robert Andrich gave Leverkusen the lead, Bayern's Aleksandar Pavlovic levelled with a stunning half-volley from 25 metres out which beat goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky to leave the visitors third in the standings.
Bayern Munich are relishing the prospect of facing champions Bayer Leverkusen, manager Vincent Kompany said on Friday, as his side look to re-assert themselves as top dogs in the Bundesliga.
Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso was happy with the German champions' 4-0 win at Feyenoord in their Champions League campaign opener on Thursday, but said the victory did not come as easily as it looked.
Bayer Leverkusen's 35-game unbeaten Bundesliga run came to an end in their last game and manager Xabi Alonso hopes the short time he has had with his players will be sufficient to get back to winning ways.
Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso asked for more unity in defence after the German champions saw their impressive unbeaten run in the Bundesliga end with a 3-2 defeat by RB Leipzig on Saturday.
The 27-year-old joins the Bundesliga champions after four seasons with Rennes, where he helped them secure Champions League qualification for the first time.
Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen battled past second division Kaiserslautern 1-0 on Saturday to win the German Cup and secure the club's first ever domestic double.
Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso said his side will over time look back with pride on their European record unbeaten run but must use the pain of Wednesday's Europa League final defeat to spur them on for another final in three days time.
Ademola Lookman scored a stunning hat-trick as Atalanta beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the Europa League final on Wednesday to win just the second major trophy in their 117-year history and end the German champions' remarkable unbeaten streak.
Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso says his team deserve all three titles available to them this season after they qualified for the Europa League final by overcoming AS Roma on Thursday.
Bayer Leverkusen staged a remarkable late comeback to move into the Europa League final with a 2-2 draw at home to AS Roma on Thursday as they won 4-2 on aggregate and set the longest unbeaten run in all competitions including European matches.
Bayer Leverkusen will use last campaign's Europa League loss against AS Roma as motivation when they host the Serie A side once again in the second leg of the semi-finals on Thursday, manager Xabi Alonso said on Wednesday.
Goals by Florian Wirtz and Robert Andrich gave Bayer Leverkusen a 2-0 advantage over AS Roma in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday as the German champions edged closer to their first European final in 22 years.
Newly-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen reached the Europa League semi-finals but almost lost their season-long unbeaten record as they struck late to draw 1-1 away at West Ham United for a 3-1 aggregate victory on Thursday.
Bayer Leverkusen are preparing for their biggest league game in decades on Sunday, when a home win over Werder Bremen would bring Xabi Alonso's unbeaten side their first Bundesliga title.
Former Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm is convinced Bayer Leverkusen, who are seeking their first Bundesliga title, will end the Bavarian team's 11-year hegemony this year.
Bayer Leverkusen were minutes away from seeing their unbeaten season come to an end on Thursday but coach Xabi Alonso said the thought of losing holds no fear for him and he is more concerned with how his team reacts when defeat finally comes their way.
The Bundesliga leaders, who lacked their usual efficiency up front while also allowing the visitors enough space to attack, needed a mistake by Mainz keeper Robin Zentner to snatch the win.
