Two wins in the new year
The lackluster 1-0 (0-0) win against frighteners and surprise team FSV Mainz 05 at the end of the first half of the season was doubly good, the Werkself remained undeterred on the heels of league leaders Bayern Munich and once again strengthened their own self-image. “At the end of the season nobody asks you how the game against Mainz was. The three points stayed here in Leverkusen and we took a step forward again”said leader Granit Xhaka.
The Leverkusen team had already shown in the 3-2 win in Dortmund that they had carried their outstanding pre-Christmas form into the new year – and that they were not letting personnel setbacks derail them in their hunt for three titles. In Dortmund, the Werkself dominated even without exceptional talent Florian Wirtz in the starting line-up (missed a team meeting due to a traffic jam). Against Mainz, defense chief Jonathan Tah was out for a short time (cold).
Effective at the front, stable at the back
“It is important that we are ready even in such a situation”Alonso said: “Today was the chance to show: We can do it without Jona.” And that’s what the master did. While the defense was the Werkself’s Achilles heel in the autumn, it is now rock solid with only five goals conceded in the last nine competitive games – a fantastic free-kick goal from Alejandro Grimaldo (48th) was enough to win against Mainz.
Senegal
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