Two of three unbeaten teams across Europe’s top five leagues currently occupy first and second in the Bundesliga, but last year’s champions Bayern Munich – who lifted their eleventh consecutive league title – find themselves trailing. We examine why Bayer Leverkusen will win the Bundesliga this year under the stewardship of Xabi Alonso.
Why Bayer Leverkusen Will Win the Bundesliga This Year
Bayer Leverkusen Results So Far
Although it would be easy to dive right into Xabi Alonso’s scarcely believable impact since returning to the Bundesliga, we must first look at the cold, hard evidence of their title credentials.
If someone told you Bayern Munich were unbeaten, having won nine of their 11 games whilst scoring 42 and conceding on just nine occasions, you would be forgiven for thinking they are flying high at the summit.
Instead, the Bavarians trail arguably European football’s most romantic success story in the early stages of 2023/24. The widely revered Xabi Alonso has lifted them from the mire, transforming a team who were second-bottom upon his arrival last October, into genuine title contenders.
As mentioned, Leverkusen are one of three teams yet to be beaten this year across Europe’s top five leagues, and along with Nice are just one of two yet to lose in all competitions.
Along the way they have already proven their ability to compete with the very best in Germany, winning 3-2 on the opening day against DFB Pokal champions RB Leipzig, before claiming a famous 94th minute point away at Bayern Munich on matchday five.
Add to that eight separate occasions having scored at least four goals or more, and you are left with a team who are not just winning, but winning convincingly. For context, unbeaten Nice in Ligue 1 have managed just 13 goals in 12 games, which is less than Lorient who currently sit in the relegation play-off spot.
Bayer Leverkusen 2023/24 Season Record
- Matches Played – 17
- Matches Won – 16
- Matches Drawn – 1
- Matches Lost – 0
- Goals Scored – 59 (3.47 per game)
- Goals Conceded – 14 (0.82 per game)
Xabi Alonso’s Style and Presence
Leverkusen were second-bottom when they took the decision to cut ties with Gerardo Seoane last October. It signalled a new low for the club who have long been characterised by mediocrity – always challenging for a European spot but seemingly never having the bite to challenge for a title. They have finished runners-up on five occasions without ever having lifted the Bundesliga.
In hiring Xabi Alonso just over 12 months ago, they were taking a huge gamble. A former legend as a player arrived in Germany with a mixed bag of experiences as a manager, taking Real Sociedad’s B team to the Segunda division for the first time in 60 years, before being immediately relegated the following year.
Nevertheless, Alonso managed to compete with some of Spain’s most iconic and illustrious clubs who had slipped out of La Liga over the years, all the while with a squad that had an average of age of around 21.
Such is the richness of his experiences as a player that even his former employers Bayern Munich took a brief look at his credentials before opting for Julian Nagelsmann, despite never having led a senior team.
The pragmatism of Jose Mourinho. The will-to-win of Rafa Benitez. The Midas touch of Carlo Ancelotti’s man-management, and of course the footballing philosophy of Pep Guardiola. Alonso is a disciple of each and every one of these managers, and his experiences as a player underpin his management style.
Never doubt Jose Mourinho. He predicted Xabi Alonso will be a great coach and we now see him cooking in Bundesliga pic.twitter.com/tHhy8LOwRE
— UTDLoyal (@Utdloyals_) November 15, 2023
His initial impact made Leverkusen far more comfortable out of possession last season, eventually leading them on an incredible charge up to the table to snatch a Europa League spot. This current campaign, therefore, was all about implementing the possession-based, easy-on-the-eye brand of football we have come to expect from the current influx of ex-Spanish midfield managers.
One senior club official told the Athletic: “There are some former pros who try to impress players with their skills on the ball, since they don’t have much else to offer by way of coaching.
“Xabi doesn’t need that. He just plays a killer pass to get his idea across — like somebody would draw an arrow on the tactics board — and to raise the quality of the training exercise.”
Alonso carries with him the same aura of suave sophistication as he did when he was a player. Some players have even claimed he could still play at the highest level. He simply commands respect because of everything he has achieved in football.
Bayern Leverkusen’s New Signings
Before the season had even began, Bayer Leverkusen had to grapple with the losses of Moussa Diaby, who departed for Aston Villa, and Mitchel Bakkar who completed a move to Atalanta.
When Leverkusen were still finding their feet last term, the pair were key to what quickly became a devastating counter-attack with Diaby on the right and Bakkar on the left.
Just over £60m in fees from their exits afforded the hierarchy ample opportunity to mould and shape the squad in Alonso’s vision for the new campaign.
In doing so, the team has managed to maintain the same 3-4-2-1 formation that proved oh-so effective last season, but fresh faces have transformed them into a frightening, ultra-direct and hugely pragmatic side.
Granit Xhaka has continued his late-career renaissance as an attacking number eight since leaving Arsenal. He has vastly improved them in the transition, providing the optimal link between the defence and attack – this is perhaps best reflected by the fact he has played more successful passes into the final third than any player in Europe’s top seven leagues (129).
Victor Boniface was also an excellent pick up from the board, and he has slotted in with ease at the spearhead of attack, providing 17 goals involvements in 16 games.
Alex Grimaldo has arguably been the best of the lot, however. A left-back by trade, the Spaniard has bided his time over the years and is somewhat under appreciated in his native country – he made his debut for La Roja this month aged 28.
1 – Álex Grimaldo has scored eight goals this season, more than any other defender from the top five European leagues across all competitions. In addition, he has scored the most goals from outside the box of any player, with four. Sensation. pic.twitter.com/YWlyZTzc8v
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) November 15, 2023
Only Lionel Messi, Kevin De Bruyne, Bruno Fernandes, Dusan Tadic and Antoine Griezmann had a higher expected assists than him last year.
Much like we have seen with the likes of Joao Cancelo and Oleksandr Zinchenko, Grimaldo is an expert at the inverted full-back role. Eight goals and six assists is a staggering return for a left-back, and is made that much sweeter by the fact he was picked up on a free transfer.
Closing Thoughts
23 games stand between Bayer Leverkusen and a first ever Bundesliga title. That is a heavy workload to contend with, particularly for a team still in development, who are also contending with DFB Pokal and Europa League fixtures.
Borussia Dortmund can attest to the horrors of leading the table. Bayern Munich’s looming shadow grew ever-larger as the final approached last season, like some sort of serial-winning Godzilla stomping everything in its path for an 11th year in a row.
Attempting to stop Bayern from lifting a 12th will undoubtedly be their biggest challenge, which has been made that much harder by the arrival of, what many people believe to be the greatest marksman on the planet in Harry Kane.
It is must be a nightmare thought for Kane. His own pursuit of silverware for the first time in his career could be stopped by a team who have never won the league, contending against a side who have had a decade long monopoly over the title.
Whatever transpires over the remaining months of the season, all Leverkusen need to do is maintain this level of maturity. They are just as solid in defence as they are in attack, and providing they can remain consistent with it, there is absolutely no reason why they can’t win the Bundesliga.
Bayern needed until the dying minutes of the final day in 2022/23 to crush Dortmund – a side who pale in comparison to this hugely ambitious Leverkusen team.
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