Bayer Leverkusen victorious before facing Bayern in Champions League

Bayer Leverkusen will come to Munich for Wednesday’s Champions League round of 16 first leg on the back of a commanding win in the Bundesliga. The defending champions earned a 4-1 victory at Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday to move back to within eight points of the league leaders. Nathan Tella, Nordi Mukiele and Patrik Schick scored in the space of seven first-half minutes before Hugo Ekitike got a goal back for Frankfurt. Aleix Garcia then wrapped things up for the visitors in the second half. 

Alonso pleased with display

Coach Xabi Alonso appeared pleased with his team’s performance. “We were lively in every action. We found solutions with clarity. It’s never perfect, but it was very good,” the former Bayern man said. Midfielder Granit Xhaka highlighted his team’s performance from the first 45 minutes in particular: “It was a very good first half, with high pressing and lots of turnovers. We won the key duels, took our chances and claimed a commanding 4-1 win.” Striker Schick, who’s got 22 goals in 32 competitive appearances this season after his finish in Frankfurt, added: “The goals give me a good feeling. That helps every striker.” Fellow goalscorer Garcia spoke afterwards of how his side had been fully aware of Bayern’s result the previous evening. “We knew they won. Today we had to do our job, and we did that in the perfect way.”

Consistency and notable European results

It means the Werkself are unbeaten in their last eight competitive outings. They’ve suffered only one defeat all season in the Bundesliga, coming at home to RB Leipzig back in August (3-2). Alonso’s side have also looked good in Europe this season, finishing the league phase in sixth place to ensure progress straight to the last 16. They claimed big wins away at Feyenoord (4-0) and against Red Bull Salzburg (5-0), as well as a pair of 1-0 triumphs over Milan clubs Inter and AC.

Bayern have already encountered Leverkusen three times this season, with a pair of draws in the Bundesliga (1-1 and 0-0) accompanying a 1-0 defeat at home in the DFB Cup round of 16. “We all know how it is to play against Bayern, but it’ll be completely different in the Champions League,” said Mukiele after the Frankfurt match. Alonso is also approaching this double header with caution. “We know it’s a big challenge for us to play against Bayern in the Champions League round of 16. Playing in the Allianz Arena first is really tough.” His on-field general Xhaka spoke confidently, though: “We’re solid enough to cause Bayern problems.”

Read about Bayern’s weekend win at VfB Stuttgart: