Xabi Alonso Wants To Keep It Cool In Bayer Leverkusen-Bayern Munich Showdown

Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso said keeping a cool head would be the secret to making his side's recent dominance of Bayern Munich count in the Champions League last 16. Managing in the top flight for just a second full season, Alonso may be inexperienced in coaching terms, but the Spaniard knows a thing or two about Champions League success from his playing days. Alonso won the Champions League with both Liverpool and Real Madrid. During a career in which he also spent three seasons at Bayern, he reached the final three times and the semi-finals on a further six occasions.

On top of his club honours, Alonso also won two European Championships with Spain and the 2010 World Cup.

Under Alonso, who took over in October 2022, Leverkusen have never lost to Bayern, winning three games and drawing the other three.

But with this the first meeting on the European stage -- and with this season's final in Munich -- Alonso's big match experience could prove crucial for Leverkusen.

On Saturday, Bayer Leverkusen thumped Eintracht Frankfurt 4-1 to stay eight points behind Bayern and keep their slim hopes alive of defending their Bundesliga title.

Speaking after the match, Alonso said domestic dominance meant little when the Champions League anthem soars through the stadium speakers.

"It doesn't matter. The next game is always the most important. It will be brutally difficult for us and it'll be a big challenge.

"We're in form. We want to show again we can bring the fight to Bayern. But we also know the Champions League and Bundesliga are totally different.

"The Champions League is a bit more emotional. Emotional control is most important.

"Five bad minutes, and you're gone."

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