Leverkusen ready for Bayern ‘at full throttle’

MUNICH:

Bayer Leverkusen expect Bayern Munich to pull out all the stops when the two sides meet in the Bundesliga on Saturday and the champions will need to put in a perfect performance to get the most out of the match, says coach Xabi Alonso .

Leverkusen last season became the first team to finish a Bundesliga campaign unbeaten by lifting the trophy and ending Bayern’s run of 11 consecutive titles, but this time around their Bavarian opponents are determined to reclaim their crown.

Championship leaders Bayern have won all four of their Bundesliga matches this season and sit top of the table with 12 points, three more than second-placed Leverkusen.

“The expectation is high and we want to show a good game. We need a perfect performance to win something,” Alonso told reporters on Friday. “FC Bayern have had a good start to the season, it will be a challenge tomorrow. We have to play at our highest level, with and against the ball for 90 minutes. Bayern will go at full throttle, we have to be ready for that. “.

Leverkusen have been shaky defensively this season, conceding nine goals in four league matches, and they conceded three in a roller coaster 4-3 win over VfL Wolfsburg in their last match.

After the match, Alonso criticized his team’s poor defending and before the match against Bayern, the Spaniard once again stressed the need to be disciplined in defense.

“The team has to be compact, we have to defend together. We have a clear game plan, we can’t be too soft and we can’t allow big gaps,” Alonso said. “We have a clear game plan as to how we want to play. We will give everything… If we don’t defend well, it’s difficult for the players to win. We want to be consistent. We don’t want to be left behind. top to bottom.” After their league clash against Bayern, Leverkusen host Italian side AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday.