Xabi Alonso (foto: Getty Images)
Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen remains unbeaten by Bayern Munich, knocking them out of the DFB-Pokal and frustrating the Bundesliga giants in five consecutive meetings.
Bayern Munich is finding itself in uncharacteristically turbulent times, with recent clashes against their biggest rivals exposing cracks in the Bavarians' Bundesliga dominance. Following a draw in the Der Klassiker, Bayern suffered another blow, being knocked out of the DFB-Pokal by Bayer Leverkusen, led by the inimitable Xabi Alonso.
The Spanish coach, a former Bayern player himself, admitted after the match that his team didn’t deliver a dazzling performance, but emphasized the importance of securing the win.
"I’m very proud of the team. Sometimes it doesn’t matter how you win; the only thing that counts is the victory. We’ve seen Bayern’s games, and usually, they destroy their opponents. It’s not easy to survive against them," Alonso said post-match.
He added: "Beating Bayern, a very strong team this season, is something special. Of course, we suffered, but in the end, we achieved our goal, and we’re very happy because of that."
Remarkably, Bayern has yet to defeat Leverkusen since Xabi Alonso took over as their head coach. The two teams have faced off five times, with Leverkusen claiming victory in three matches, while the other two ended in draws.
Alonso's tactical acumen has proven to be a major obstacle for Bayern, underscoring his rising status as one of Europe’s most promising managers.