Possible cushion to BVB leaves Bayer coach Alonso cold
For Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso, the upcoming Bundesliga clash with Borussia Dortmund has all the makings of a top match, regardless of their position in the table. "This is a top opponent, with a good coach and great individual quality. There are many reasons to think why this is a top match," said the 42-year-old with a view to the game on Sunday (17:30/DAZN) in the BayArena.
The Werkself, who are still riding a wave of success following their 2-0 win in Gothenburg, Sweden, at BK Häcken and the resulting place in the last 16 of the Europa League, could score an important point against BVB in the race for a place in the Champions League. With a win, Leverkusen would move a comfortable 13 points clear of Dortmund.
However, the Spaniard was not interested in such arithmetic on Friday. "The goal is three more points for us. If we achieve that goal, we'll be in a great position. We're not looking at individual teams like Dortmund, Leipzig or Bayern, but only at the next game. We're not thinking about the distance either, there's still a long way to go until May," warned the coach, who brought positive news with him.
National player Florian Wirtz, who did not travel to Sweden due to muscular problems, is set to return against Dortmund. "He's feeling much better. We still have to wait a bit, but we're optimistic," said Alonso.
In the forthcoming Bundesliga encounter between Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund, Xabi Alonso recognizes the high caliber of opposing team and players, referring to Dortmund as a "top opponent" with "great individual quality" in soccer. The victory for Leverkusen in this match would create a substantial gap of 13 points between the two teams, potentially aiding Leverkusen's pursuit of a Champions League spot in soccer.
Source: www.dpa.com
