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<\/p>\nHarry Kane has been scoring for fun at Bayern Munich, yet his first league title may still evade him – and it\u2019s all down to one team.<\/p>\n
Bayer Leverkusen are currently on course to upset the Bundesliga applecart. They are at the summit of the top division in German football, having recorded 12 wins and three draws, while also hammering home 74 goals in all competitions. They have been revolutionised by former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich midfielder Xabi Alonso, 42, who inherited a side second from bottom of the Bundesliga when he replaced Gerardo Seoane in October 2022. <\/p>\n
Not only have they become a winning machine, they are also playing a wonderful style of football, enabling them to score bucket loads of goals while shipping next to none at the other end. As the 2002 Champions League finalists continue to get even better, Daily Star Sport<\/b> takes a look at Alonso\u2019s incredible work. <\/p>\n
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When Alonso arrived, Leverkusen were at serious risk of their first relegation since their disastrous 1972-73 campaign. Fans were nervous when they turned to Alonso who, while enjoying a marvellous playing career, had zero experience managing a senior team.<\/p>\n
Before he took over the reins at the BayArena, his only taste of management was being in charge of the Real Madrid youth team and Real Sociedad B. After starting with a ruthless 4-0 victory over Schalke, Alonso\u2019s side would go on to lose 5-1 away to Eintracht Frankfurt, draw 2-2 with Wolfsburg and lose 2-0 away to RB Leipzig over their next three matches.<\/p>\n
As fans began to grow nervous, Alonso\u2019s side suddenly went on an incredible five match Bundesliga winning streak, overcoming Union Berlin, FC Koln, VFB Stuttgart, Borussia Monchengladbach and VFL Bochum. By the end of the campaign, not only did Leverkusen comfortably survive, they managed to secure a place in the Europa League by finishing in sixth position.<\/p>\n
What are your thoughts on Xabi Alonso's spell at Bayer Leverkusen? Let us know in the comment section below<\/i> <\/b><\/p>\n
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![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/incoming\/article31651036.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_MAIN-Boxing-In-London-Anthony-Joshua-v-Jermaine-Franklin.jpg\")
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The Day of Reckoning is coming to DAZN. The live event from Saudi Arabia will see Anthony Joshua take on Otto Wallin while you can also see clashes between Deontay Wilder vs. Joseph Parker, Daniel Dubois vs. Jarrell Miller and Dmitry Bivol vs. Lyndon Arthur on an unmissable night of boxing.<\/span><\/p>\n Get your first month of DAZN from just \u00a30.01 when you buy the Pay Per View event for \u00a319.99<\/p>\n At the start of the 2023-24 campaign, Alonso had to say goodbye to star man Moussa Diaby, who was plucked by Aston Villa in an enormous \u00a351.9m deal. This fee was re-invested by signing Granit Xhaka from Arsenal, Nathan Tella, who had just been relegated with Southampton, Jonas Hofmann from Monchengladbach, Arthur from Brazilian giants Am\u00e9rica Futebol Clube and Victor Boniface from Royale Union Saint-Gilloise. <\/p>\n Not only have all players justified their fees, Boniface has hammered home nine goals in 15 appearances, making him the fourth highest goalscorer in the division. Moreover, left-wing-back Alejandro Grimaldo has turned into a prodigal goalscorer, contributing seven goals in 15 appearances. <\/p>\n Midfield genius Florian Wirtz, 20, who was heavily linked with Manchester City and Chelsea until he tore his ACL in March, has rediscovered his fitness and form with five goals and six assists in 15 Bundesliga matches. <\/p>\n Most impressively, Leverkusen are the only team in Europe\u2019s top five leagues to have not lost a single match in all competitions. They have beaten RB Leipzig and drawn with Bayern and Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga. <\/p>\n In the Europa League they breezed into the Last-16 by winning all six matches against Hacken, Molde FK and Qarabag, scoring 19 goals and only conceding three. With Bayern out of the DFB-Pokal, they are also the strong favourites to win the German domestic trophy. <\/p>\n If Alonso\u2019s side maintain this current form, not only could they deprive Kane of his first league title, they could even record a historic treble. Across the whole of Europe, Leverkusen are certainly the team to watch. <\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/incoming\/article31705821.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Bayer-04-Leverkusen-vs-SC-Paderborn-DFB-Pokal-Achtelfinale-BayArena-Leverkusen-Germany-06-De.jpg\")
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