Leverkusen going full throttle into Frankfurt test
Xabi Alonso is braced for a tough outing as Bayer Leverkusen travels to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga, but said his side will approach the game at "full throttle."
Just eight points separate the two teams in the competition, with Leverkusen aiming to cut the sizeable gap to leader Bayern Munich in its quest to retain the league crown it won last season.
Leverkusen is unbeaten in 21 Bundesliga games and its tally of 50 points is its second best at this stage of a top-flight campaign since managing 61 in 2023-2024.
Alonso's side also hasn't lost any of its past 28 top-flight away games, winning 20 of them, the second-longest run in Bundesliga history after Bayern's streak of 33 away matches between April 2012 and March 2014.
Leverkusen also has an impressive recent record against this weekend's opponent, winning each of their past four meetings in the Bundesliga.
Indeed, Leverkusen has only put together a better streak against Frankfurt in the top-flight since a run of seven straight victories between 1998 and 2003.
Although Eintracht enters the clash on the back of a 4-0 thrashing by Bayern, Alonso was wary of the threat Dino Toppmoller's side posed.
"Frankfurt have a lot of quality collectively and individually. We expect a tough game against a very good opponent," the Spaniard said.
"Frankfurt are third in the table and strong at home. I expect a top game. They are good in possession and good on the counter-attack. They switch flexibly between a back three and a back four.
"We need a clear game plan and, at the same time, we have to react flexibly."
Alonso confirmed ahead of the match that he would be without defenders Piero Hincapie and Jeanuel Belocian, as well as forward Martin Terrier.
He will also have one eye on next week's UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg tie against Bayern at Allianz Arena.
But Alonso said that his players will go full out this weekend to ensure they try and keep pace with Vincent Kompany's side at the summit of the standings.
"We always play at full throttle. In every game. The best team will line up tomorrow, as always," Alonso said.
