Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso stated on Thursday that despite his team’s remarkable league and cup double last season, Bayern Munich remains the favorite for the Bundesliga title this year. “For me, the favourites are Bayern, that’s clear,” Alonso said during a press conference before Friday’s Bundesliga season opener against Borussia Moenchengladbach. “Our goal is to stay in the top four. That’s realistic — we have a good squad.”
Leverkusen made history last season by winning the Bundesliga for the first time, ending Bayern’s 11-year dominance and consigning them to their first trophyless season since 2011-12.
Bayern Munich, under new coach Vincent Kompany, have been active in the transfer market this summer, acquiring Michael Olise and Joao Palhinha from the Premier League and Hiroki Ito from Stuttgart.
Leverkusen haven’t lost a match in Germany since May 2023. They made history last season by going unbeaten throughout the entire Bundesliga campaign, winning the German Cup, and reaching the Europa League final. They started the new season by defeating Stuttgart on penalties in the German Super Cup after a 2-2 draw.
Reflecting on last season, Alonso remarked that Leverkusen’s title-winning achievements were now “in the past.”
“Last year was really nice… but we’re starting from scratch again,” he said. “We need to earn everything again. We need to win our points and for that, we need good performances. We know every game will be difficult — and that will be the case against Gladbach.”
Alonso confirmed that everyone except Argentine midfielder Exequiel Palacios, who is sidelined with a knee injury, would be available for the match against their local rivals, Gladbach.
