Xabi Alonso has transformed Bayer Leverkusen from a relegation candidate to unbeaten Bundesliga leader in just over a year since taking over.
Alonso’s team won 22 of its 35 games in the Bundesliga in 2023 — a club record within a calendar year.
Highly regarded as a classy midfielder for Real Madrid, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Real Sociedad, Alonso was untested as a coach at a major club until Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes entrusted him with the team in October last year.
Leverkusen was second from bottom in the Bundesliga with just five points from its opening eight games, already knocked out in the first round of the German Cup, and struggling in the Champions League. After starting with a 4-0 rout of Schalke, Alonso had to wait for his ideas to take hold as the team failed to win any of its next six games. But then it clicked into gear with a 5-0 rout of then-leader Union Berlin In November 2022. It was the result Alonso needed to restore confidence and belief to the side.
They have grown only stronger in the meantime. On Wednesday, Leverkusen stayed four points clear at the top of the Bundesliga with a 4-0 win over Bochum, while it also set a German record for the longest unbeaten run since the start of the season.
Leverkusen has not lost any of its 25 games across all competitions this season. It has won all but three games.
Leverkusen is playing arguably the most attractive fotball in the league.
Speedy wing backs Jeremie Frimpong and Álex Grimaldo launch relentless attacks from the sides, Granit Xhaka brings his experience in the center, and Florian Wirtz conjures his magic up front.
The 20-year-old Wirtz has scored eight goals and set up 12 more across all competitions this season.
But Alonso also has alternatives in his squad.
Against Bochum on Wednesday, he opted to start Patrik Schick instead of Victor Boniface for the first time in the Bundesliga this season. The Czech forward responded with a first-half hat trick. Boniface had to wait for his substitute entrance before getting his 10th league goal of the season. Only Bayern has more goals than Leverkusen, helped by Harry Kane’s remarkable 21.
It’s no coincidence that Leverkusen has the best defense – opponents are too busy trying to stop its attack. It also has Jonathan Tah, Edmond Tapsoba and Odilon Kossounou guarding Lukas Hradecky’s goal.
Alonso will likely have to do without up to five players when the league resumes on Jan. 13 with a game at Augsburg.
The African Cup of Nations starts the same day, and Boniface (Nigeria), Tapsoba (Burkina Faso), Kossounou (Ivory Coast), Nathan Tella (Nigeria) and Amine Adli (Morocco) are all likely to called up to play at the tournament.Alonso’s lineup against Bochum hinted at how he will play without the African players, and the team’s performance showed it can cope.
Leverkusen can claim the unofficial title of ‘autumn champion’ for leading at the halfway stage. Bayern, the 11-time defending champion, is four points behind having played a game less. (AP)
