Xabi Alonso’s Bayern Leverkusen team defeated Schalke 4-0 to kick off his tenure there with a victory. Is Alonso prepared to compete with the top European coaches who currently rule the game?
Leverkusen wins its first game under new manager Xabi Alonso and its second in the Bundesliga.
The 2022–23 Bundesliga season for Bayer Leverkusen began with a loss to Borussia Dortmund.
Marcus Reus’s goal in the 10th minute of the first half was sufficient for Dortmund to earn all three points despite having the majority of the possession and more shots on goal than their opponent.
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Bayern Leverkusen went down to 10 men in the 90+2 minute following Hradecky’s red card and dismissal.
Their next match was at home in the BayArena against Augsburg. The team’s horror continued as they conceded a 2-1 loss despite completely dominating the visitors.
While the home team had a commanding 24 shots with 8 on target, Augsburg only managed 6 shots with 4 on target.
With 32% of the ball versus Bayer Leverkusen’s 68%, the visitors are equally as ineffective as Leverkusen.
The team was dominant, but it didn’t matter because they lost again, making it two straight losses.
It was a similar result when Hoffenheim was played again at the BayArena. Leverkusen controlled play and outshot their opponents in shots on goal, but they were still defeated by three unanswered goals.
The host team loses as a result of goals from Baumgartner, Kramaric, and Rutter as they still waiting for their first Bundesliga victory.
Coach Gerardo Seoane, a Swiss native, was undoubtedly under pressure as the bad run of performances persisted.
Despite being reduced to 10 men in the 77th minute after Hincapie was sent off, the club defeated Mainz to earn their first Bundesliga victory away from home.
Nevertheless, Sesoane’s situation at the BayArena was made slightly more difficult by the victory. After the game, the pressure was still on him.
After the victory, the team lost two games in a row, to Club Brugge in the Champions League and Freiburg in the Bundesliga.
The situation deteriorated after draws with Werder Bremen and Hertha Berlin and a 4-0 loss to Bayern Munich.
Another Champions League loss to FC Porto was the straw that ultimately broke the camel’s back, and Gerardo Sesoane was fired as a result.
After being chosen as the new manager, Xabi Alonso led his team to a resounding victory in his first game in command.
Bayer Leverkusen thrashed Schalke 4-0 to earn their second victory of the year and climb to position 14 on the standings.
Can Xabi Alonso change the club’s bad luck?
Alongside his old teammate Xavi, Xabi Alonso graduated from a UEFA Elites coaching course in 2018, and he immediately began his managerial career at Real Sociedad B, the club’s youth wing.
Real Sociedad B was promoted to the Segunda Division in the team’s second season under his leadership.
On May 25, 2022, Xabi Alonso left Real Sociedad B as the squad was once more demoted to the Segunda Division.
Alonso was named Bayer Leverkusen’s head coach on October 5, 2022, after Gerardo Sesoane was fired from his position as manager.
Alonso’s first top-tier European team to be in charge is Bayer Leverkusen. It is still too early to overstate his potential with the club, despite his stellar start.