Last week was promising for the new Bayer coach Xabi Alonso. But the clear defeat in Frankfurt raises many questions.
Xabi Alonso’s team falls apart against Frankfurt in the second half.
What to think of Xabi Alonso? This question accompanied the Spaniard’s debut as Bayer Leverkusen coach last week. For him, the world and European champion, it is the first coaching station outside of Spain, where he coached Real Sociedad’s second team until the summer.
He started with a certain advance from Bundesliga times. As a player, Xabi Alonso was the leader of FC Bayern, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the former CEO, once said that he could very well imagine Alonso as a Bayern coach in a few years, after all the Spaniard was “the smartest and the best strategist I’ve ever seen in midfield.”
Tactical skill paired with a smart demeanor, plus the CV of a world-class player: At first glance, this results in a promising combination. Only the experience is missing. And Alonso could get that in Leverkusen. As the successor to the Swiss Gerardo Seoane, who, after a spectacular first year, was unable to cope with the sudden problems and was released at the beginning of October.
The past week was promising for the Basque, with Leverkusen beating Schalke 4-0 when the new coach made his debut. But what is the value of victory? This question arises even more after the second game directed by Alonso: On Saturday his team in Frankfurt lost 5-1 to Eintracht, who were steered magistrally by Mario Götze.
Daichi Kamada converted two penalties, Randal Kolo Muani, Jesper Lindström and Lucas Alario scored for the Europa League winner’s team. Ecuador international Piero Hincapié scored the goal for Leverkusen to make it 1-1, but was sent off in the 71st minute, further weakening his side. The trainer, whom the boulevard promptly welcomed in the relegation battle, did not seem perplexed. He is not thinking about the coming May, but about the coming week, he announced.
Eintracht Frankfurt – Leverkusen 5: 1 (1: 0). – Gates: 45. Kamada (foul penalty) 1-0. 56. Hincapie 1-1. 58. Kolo Muani 2-1. 65. Lindstrom 3:1. 72. Kamada (foul penalty) 4: 1. 86. Alario 5:1. – Frankfurt with Sow (until 77th). 71. Yellow card against Hincapié (Leverkusen).
Stuttgart – Bochum 4: 1 (2: 1). – Gates: 3. Silas (foul penalty) 1-0. 22. Ahamada 2-0. 29. Customs 2:1. 64. Silas 3:1. 71. Endo 4:1.
Wolfsburg – Moenchengladbach 2: 2 (1: 1). – Gates: 13. Thuram 0-1. 43.Gerhardt 1:1. 48. Thuram 1:2. 69. Marmoush 2:2. – Mönchengladbach with Sommer and Elvedi.
Bremen – Mainz 0: 2 (0: 1). – Gates: 36. Ingvartsen 0-1. 66 Lee 0-2. – Mainz with Edimilson (until 88th), without Widmer (thigh injury).
Leipzig – Hertha Berlin 3: 2 (3: 0). – Gates: 25. Forsberg 1-0. 30. Diallo 2-0. 45. Orban 3-0. 62. Lukebakio (hand penalty) 3: 1. 64. Jovetics 3:2.
Bundesliga. 10th round. Saturday: Schalke 04 – Hoffenheim 0:3. – Saturday: Eintracht Frankfurt – Bayer Leverkusen 5:1. Wolfsburg – Borussia Monchengladbach 2:2. VfB Stuttgart – Bochum 4:1. Werder Bremen – Mainz 05 0: 2. RB Leipzig – Hertha Berlin 3: 2. – Sunday: 1. FC Cologne – Augsburg (3.30 p.m.). Union Berlin – Borussia Dortmund (5.30 p.m.). Bayern Munich – SC Freiburg (7.30 p.m.). – Ranking: 1. Union Berlin 9/20. 2.SC Freiburg 9/18. 3. Hoffenheim 10/17. 4. Eintracht Frankfurt 10/17. 5. Bayern Munich 9/16. 6.Borussia Dortmund 9/16. 7. Borussia Monchengladbach 10/16. 8. Werder Bremen 10/15. 9. RB Leipzig 10/15. 10. Mainz 05 10/15. 11. 1. FC Cologne 9/13. 12. Augsburg 9/13. 13.Wolfsburg 10/10. 14. VfB Stuttgart 10/8. 15. Hertha Berlin 10/8. 16.Bayer Leverkusen 10/8. 17. Schalke 04 10/6. 18. Bochum 10/4.