(Football News) Bayer Leverkusen, in a league featuring powerhouses like Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, currently occupies the top position with a 4-point lead over second-placed Bayern, spearheaded by Xabi Alonso. Leverkusen boasts an impressive unbeaten record in the season so far, securing 14 wins and 3 draws in 17 matches.
Under Alonso’s guidance, Leverkusen supporters are daring to dream of securing their first Bundesliga title in the club’s 119-year history. While the task of dethroning perennial champions Bayern seems almost insurmountable, Alonso’s extensive experience in winning major honors as a player, coupled with his coaching prowess, could hold the key to achieving the seemingly impossible.
Alonso, who took charge of the team in 2022 after managing Real Madrid U14s and Real Sociedad’s B team, faced initial challenges with just one win in his first 7 matches. However, a 2-month undefeated run towards the end of the previous season helped secure qualification for the Europa League. Leverkusen, employing a 3-4-3 system, has become one of the top counter-attacking teams, evident in Nigerian striker Victor Boniface’s impressive tally of 16 goals in all competitions this season, although he is currently sidelined with a groin injury until April.
Alonso’s task now is to navigate challenges, particularly in the absence of Boniface, as Leverkusen’s title bid is expected to intensify in the second half of the season. Despite facing adversity against Augsburg, a late 94th-minute strike by Exequiel Palacios preserved their league lead.
Notably, under Alonso, Leverkusen stands out as the only team in Europe’s top division to maintain an undefeated record this season. The coach’s shrewd signings, including Boniface, Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka, Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Jonas Hofmann, and Benfica’s Alejandro Grimaldo, have fortified the squad. Leverkusen’s consistency is reflected in their possession-based play, ranking second in possession with an average of 58%. Their off-the-ball movements and precision passing in the opposition half, with 88.5% accuracy, showcase their tactical acumen.
A hardworking team embodying their coach’s mentality, Leverkusen, guided by Alonso, appears poised on the verge of something extraordinary.
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