Back
27.10.2023Werkself-TV

Alonso ahead of #B04SCF: Freiburg 'difficult to play against'

The second home game of this week is coming up: The Werkself entertain SC Freiburg on Sunday 29 October. The clash with the team from the Breisgau, who also won in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, kicks off at 17.30 CET in front of a full house at the BayArena. Head coach Xabi Alonso spoke to the media about personnel, the opponents and the battle for top spot.

Display videos

Yes, I'd like to see videos dispalyed.

Xabi Alonso delivered the most important information from a Black and Red perspective right at the start of the pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon: "Everybody has recovered well from the game, there are no injuries." His team secured a convincing 5-1 victory over Qarabag in the Europa League on Thursday night. As usual, the ambitious Spaniard is now looking forward again: "The most important thing is for us to carry on in the same way. And that's what we want to do."

To maintain the focus each week primarily requires "consistency. We talk every day and give 100% every day. If you want to be successful then you can't afford to stand still."

"Great respect" for Streich

The Werkself have only won one of the last five home games against SC Freiburg. "Freiburg are difficult to play against," said Alonso. The visitors from the Breisgau come to Leverkusen on the back of two wins in succession but will have to manage without Roland Sallai and Maximilian Philipp. The attacking duo at SCF were injured in the Europa League game against Backa Topola (3-1) on Thursday night.

Alonso has great respect for Freiburg's coach Christian Streich. The 41-year-old said regarding his fellow coach, who has been in charge at Freiburg since 2012: "We had a bit of a chat after the game in Freiburg last year. I can learn a thing or two from coaches like him."

battle for top spot "great"

The Werkself go into matchday eight as league leaders. Bayer 04 have won all games with the exception of the 2-2 draw at Bayern Munich. The situation at the top of the table is tight despite that. Only two points separate first and fourth spots. "It's great for the league that it's so exciting," said Alonso in response to a question. "Stuttgart are playing brilliantly and have a clear approach, Bayern are always there. Of course, there’s also Dortmund and Leipzig as well as Hoffenheim who are doing well behind them."

first district matchday

In recent days and weeks, a lot of events have been organised for the first district matchday at the weekend involving people from the Leverkusen district of Opladen. An early get-together at the Zwieback bar in Opladen on Sunday from eleven in the morning should provide the perfect start to a hopefully successful day of football at the BayArena.

The club will be present in different areas of Leverkusen over the coming months as part of the new Bayer 04 campaign of district matchdays. The game against Freiburg is one of six of these special matchdays this season

 

Related News

Bayer 04
Bundesliga - 17.05.2025

Matchday news #M05B04: 3,500 travelling supporters for final game

The Werkself bring down the curtain on their 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign with a game away at Mainz on Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CEST). Here’s all you need to know ahead of the Matchday 34 meeting at the MEWA Arena.

Show more
Die PK vor dem letzten Saisonspiel | 34. Spieltag
Werkself-TV - 16.05.2025

Alonso ahead of #M05B04: “Prepare with the same respect”

Bayer 04 close out the 2024/25 season away at Mainz on Saturday (3.30pm CEST) looking to end the campaign on a high. In his final press conference as Leverkusen boss, Xabi Alonso spoke about how he plans to approach the Bundesliga Matchday 34 fixture and also about his time with the Werkself.

Show more
Mainz 05
Bundesliga - 16.05.2025

Our next opponents: Mainz confident in final push for Europe

Bayer 04’s final game of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season takes them to Mainz on Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CEST) for what’ll be a real final for the hosts. They come into Matchday 34 in sixth place, which would see them qualify for the play-off rounds of the UEFA Conference League, but they are only ahead of RB Leipzig in seventh on goal difference. Still, Bo Henriksen’s team have their fate in their own hands if they want to qualify for European competition for only the fourth time in the club’s history. Here's all you need to know about our next opponents.

Show more
Faninfos
Fans - 15.05.2025

Fan information for away game at Mainz 05

The Werkself are away to FSV Mainz 05 on the final Bundesliga matchday of the 2024/25 season. The game is on Saturday, 17 May (kick-off: 15:30 CEST). The Bayer 04 Fan Liaison team brings you the latest information on the fixture at the MEWA Arena...

Show more
Abschied
Bayer 04 - 15.05.2025

Alonso and the coaching team bid club staff farewell with a ‘Thank you!'

¡Muchas gracias por todo! After the BayArena bid Xabi Alonso farewell at the last home game, the head coach was joined by his assistant coaches Sebastian Parrilla and Alberto Encinas, and athletics coach Ismael Camenforte Lopez to say goodbye to the club staff.

Show more