Alonso says Bayern showdown is not a title decider
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.
Leverkusen, which won its first Bundesliga crown last term, is eight points behind Vincent Kompany's side heading into Sunday's (AEDT) clash at BayArena.
Indeed, since the three points for a win era was introduced in the German top-flight, no team has made up a gap of that size after 21 matches and won the title.
Leverkusen os, however, enjoying a five-game unbeaten run across all competitions against Bayern, winning their most recent meeting in the DFB-Pokal Round of 16.
The previous German club to go longer without losing to the 33-time Bundesliga champion was Hamburg from 2007 to 2009, a run of six games.
Alonso has masterminded all of those victories, becoming the first head coach in Bundesliga history to go unbeaten in his first five competitive games against Bayern.
"It is not a final no, no," Alonso said. "We will look at the standings after the game, but it is not a final. Against Bayern, we need a near perfect performance to have a chance.
"This Bayern is really dominant in many, many of the games. In the Bundesliga they have this collective dominance and then this individual quality with Harry Kane, [Jamal] Musiala ... top, top players."
With 46 points from 21 games, this is Leverkusen’s second-best Bundesliga season behind only its title-winning campaign in 2023-2024 (55 points), despite starting slowly.
Alonso's side is also coming into the game fresher than its opponent, having not been involved in UEFA Champions League action in midweek after finishing inside the top eight of the competition's new 36-team league, thus automatically qualifying for the Round of 16.
Bayern, meanwhile, came away with a slender advantage in its play-off first leg against Celtic, with Michael Olise and Harry Kane on target in a 2-1 triumph in Glasgow.
Alonso kept his cards close to his chest when questioned about a game plan for this weekend's blockbuster showdown, most notably about whether he would deploy a three or four-man defence.
"We expect a top game against a top, top team. There is a moment for everything in a game. We have prepared our ideas," he said.
"We are competitive and to achieve that we have to be well-prepared. Bayern are dominant, at home or away. They are the best opponents you can have in the league.
"Bayern are in a better position in the standings, but we play at home. We will show the necessary energy."
