Meet the group with 74 targets scored this season who’re managed by ex-Prem ace
Harry Kane has been scoring for enjoyable at Bayern Munich, but his first league title should evade him – and it’s all down to 1 group.
Bayer Leverkusen are at the moment heading in the right direction to upset the Bundesliga applecart. They are on the summit of the highest division in German soccer, having recorded 12 wins and three attracts, whereas additionally hammering residence 74 targets in all competitions. They have been revolutionised by former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich midfielder Xabi Alonso, 42, who inherited a facet second from backside of the Bundesliga when he changed Gerardo Seoane in October 2022.
Not solely have they turn into a successful machine, they’re additionally enjoying an exquisite type of soccer, enabling them to attain bucket a great deal of targets whereas delivery subsequent to none on the different finish. As the 2002 Champions League finalists proceed to get even higher, Daily Star Sport takes a take a look at Alonso’s unimaginable work.
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When Alonso arrived, Leverkusen had been at critical threat of their first relegation since their disastrous 1972-73 marketing campaign. Fans had been nervous after they turned to Alonso who, whereas having fun with a marvellous enjoying profession, had zero expertise managing a senior group.
Before he took over the reins on the BayArena, his solely style of administration was being answerable for the Real Madrid youth group and Real Sociedad B. After beginning with a ruthless 4-0 victory over Schalke, Alonso’s facet would go on to lose 5-1 away to Eintracht Frankfurt, draw 2-2 with Wolfsburg and lose 2-0 away to RB Leipzig over their subsequent three matches.
As followers started to develop nervous, Alonso’s facet instantly went on an unimaginable 5 match Bundesliga successful streak, overcoming Union Berlin, FC Koln, VFB Stuttgart, Borussia Monchengladbach and VFL Bochum. By the tip of the marketing campaign, not solely did Leverkusen comfortably survive, they managed to safe a spot within the Europa League by ending in sixth place.
What are your ideas on Xabi Alonso’s spell at Bayer Leverkusen? Let us know within the remark part beneath
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At the beginning of the 2023-24 marketing campaign, Alonso needed to say goodbye to star man Moussa Diaby, who was plucked by Aston Villa in an unlimited £51.9m deal. This price was re-invested by signing Granit Xhaka from Arsenal, Nathan Tella, who had simply been relegated with Southampton, Jonas Hofmann from Monchengladbach, Arthur from Brazilian giants América Futebol Clube and Victor Boniface from Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.
Not solely have all gamers justified their charges, Boniface has hammered residence 9 targets in 15 appearances, making him the fourth highest goalscorer within the division. Moreover, left-wing-back Alejandro Grimaldo has was a prodigal goalscorer, contributing seven targets in 15 appearances.
Midfield genius Florian Wirtz, 20, who was closely linked with Manchester City and Chelsea till he tore his ACL in March, has rediscovered his health and kind with 5 targets and 6 assists in 15 Bundesliga matches.
Most impressively, Leverkusen are the one group in Europe’s prime 5 leagues to haven’t misplaced a single match in all competitions. They have crushed RB Leipzig and drawn with Bayern and Borussia Dortmund within the Bundesliga.
In the Europa League they breezed into the Last-16 by successful all six matches in opposition to Hacken, Molde FK and Qarabag, scoring 19 targets and solely conceding three. With Bayern out of the DFB-Pokal, they’re additionally the robust favourites to win the German home trophy.
If Alonso’s facet keep this present kind, not solely may they deprive Kane of his first league title, they might even document a historic treble. Across the entire of Europe, Leverkusen are actually the group to observe.