Sport
Alonso: Concerned About Facing Augsburg
Bayer Leverkusen, reigning Bundesliga champions, aim to continue their six-game winning streak across all competitions as they face Augsburg away on Saturday.
Although Augsburg currently sits 13th in the league, they’ve only lost once in seven home matches this season, including a win over Borussia Dortmund in October and draws against Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Last season, Leverkusen narrowly avoided a goalless draw with Augsburg, with Exequiel Palacios securing a late winner. In the prior season, Augsburg defeated them 1–0 at home.
Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso acknowledged the challenge, saying on Friday: “We’ve seen in recent visits that playing in Augsburg is never easy.”
Leverkusen, fresh off a 1–0 Champions League victory over Inter Milan on Tuesday, currently stands third in the league with 26 points, seven behind leaders Bayern Munich. This position reflects a recovery from five frustrating draws between September and November, with the team now riding a three-game Bundesliga winning streak.
Alonso emphasized the importance of maintaining focus: “The Bundesliga is our top priority. Every match is critical and challenging. Right now, we’re managing our focus and momentum very well—not just performing well on the pitch but maintaining a strong mentality.”
With the winter break approaching, Alonso is determined to sustain the team’s high performance: “We want to bring our best to every match, especially against a strong opponent like Augsburg.”