Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso has called on his team to pile pressure on Bundesliga leaders and rivals Bayern Munich as league fixtures resume this weekend following the international break, Afrosport reports.
Eight matches remain to conclude the 2024-25 season, and Leverkusen are currently in second place, six points behind Bayern.
The reigning champions host Bochum at BayArena on Friday night, and victory would see them close the gap ahead of Bayern’s trip to St. Pauli on Saturday.
“This is super important for us,” Xabi Alonso said. “It is clear what we have to do, and that is to fight until the end, and the first chance we have to reduce Bayern’s lead to three points is tomorrow.
“We want to put as much pressure on them as possible. If we win and get the three points, then it is a better situation for us. That is the wish and the idea we should have going into the game tomorrow.”
According to #Alonso, April is a very intense phase of the league. “Anything can happen!”
#B04BOC | #Bayer04 | @CocaCola pic.twitter.com/5otIYl0WKd
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) March 27, 2025
Leverkusen are also in the hunt for the German Cup, which they won last season, and will face third-tier side Arminia Bielefeld in the semi-finals on Tuesday.
