Xabi Alonso analyzes Bayer Leverkusen's first Bundesliga defeat

After the end of the super streak, master coach Xabi Alonso's main focus is on coming to terms with the first Bundesliga defeat in more than 15 months. "It was a long series, but now it's over, there's no more record," said the Bayer Leverkusen head coach after the incredible 3-2 defeat against RB Leipzig despite taking a deserved and commanding 2-0 lead. "We made very big mistakes after going 2-0 up and we have to learn from those mistakes," said the 42-year-old after the game. Leverkusen had previously gone 35 Bundesliga games without defeat.

"It's interesting for me to see how the team deals with it. Unfortunately, there's an international break and I won't have the players in the dressing room tomorrow," said Leverkusen's coach. He was probably disappointed, but not necessarily surprised, that his team were not yet at their best against Leipzig after the narrow victories in the Super Cup against VfB Stuttgart, in the Bundesliga opener in Mönchengladbach and in the cup in Jena.

Two former Bayer professionals initiate the turnaround

Everything was in place in the first home game of the season. A double strike before the break from Jeremie Frimpong and Alejandro Grimaldo (39th/45th) gave the hosts a 2-0 lead. Shortly afterwards, the two former Bayer professionals Benjamin Henrichs and Kevin Kampl took the chance to make it 1-2: Henrichs crossed and Kampl scored his first headed goal in the Bundesliga. "In the dressing room, we swore ourselves in again and told ourselves that everything was still possible. Today we struck coldly. It's really special for me to have scored here," said Kampl. Lois Openda did the rest with two goals (57th and 80th), in which Hradecky's deputy Matej Kovar did not cut the best figure in the Bayer goal.

Defender Jonathan Tah, who finally has clarity and his place in the team after all the transfer rumors, reminded of the class of the opponent. "They're a good team who will make the most of every chance we give them," explained the international, who is now entering his tenth season with Bayer.