How do you follow up an historic upset? That’s the question facing Xabi Alonso and Bayer Leverkusen as they seek to prove they belong among European soccer’s top teams after ending Bayern Munich’s 11-year reign in the German league last season.

With Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen side trailing Bundesliga leaders, Bayern Munich by eight points, the Leverkusen Head Coach tried to play down the hype on Friday ahead of an enthralling

Saturday's Bundesliga big game between leaders Bayern Munich and champions Bayer Leverkusen is not a title-deciding game even though the latter are eight points behind the Bavarians, Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso said on Friday.

Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso was caught by surprise when the news broke that Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala had renewed his contract until 2030 on the eve of the two teams' big Bundesliga topper on Saturday.

Xabi Alonso insisted that Bayer Leverkusen's top-of-the-table clash with Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich will not decide where the title will end up this season.

Xabi Alonso insisted that Bayer Leverkusen's top-of-the-table clash with Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich will not decide where the title will end up this season.

Bayer Leverkusen, led by coach Xabi Alonso, seeks to cement its place among Europe's soccer elite following an outstanding season. With key players retained, Leverkusen aims for consistent top-four finishes and Champions League qualification,

Whatever the result, Bayer Leverkusen’s club chief executive Fernando Carro recently said that Alonso has “already [done] enough for a statue” but the Head Coach will not be resting on past achievements as he looks to knock Bayern Munich off their Bundesliga perch.

Bayern Munich's clash with Bayer Leverkusen is a critical match but not a title decider, states Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso. With Bayern holding an eight-point lead, Alonso emphasizes the need for a near-perfect performance against the dominant Bavarians to keep their title hopes alive.