Xabi Alonso calls for tighter defence after Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten run ends

LEVERKUSEN – Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso asked for more unity in defence, after the German champions saw their impressive unbeaten run in the Bundesliga end with a 3-2 defeat by RB Leipzig at home on Aug 31.

Leverkusen were up 2-0 after goals by Jeremie Frimpong and Alejandro Grimaldo but let the advantage slip, as Kevin Kampl pulled a goal back for Leipzig in first-half stoppage time and Lois Openda added a brace following half-time.

“We’ll take a lot of positives and negatives from this game,” Alonso said.

“We played a good game in the first half. We were happy with that and wanted to build on it in the second.

“(But) We had no control in the second half and gave Leipzig too much space. We didn’t do well in the backline.

“We will learn from these mistakes. It’s not good to let an opponent come back after leading 2-0. But it’s a process, we’re still early in the season.”

Leipzig snapped Leverkusen’s 35-game unbeaten streak, leaving them one result away from matching Hamburg’s tally of 36 games unbeaten in 1982-83 – the Bundesliga’s second-longest run after Bayern Munich’s record of 53 under Pep Guardiola.

“We were in a good flow after taking a 2-0 lead, but we then have to be ready to defend,” Alonso added.

“We want to attack together, but we also have to defend together. We’ll work through the game after the international break.”

Leverkusen were the better side and could have gained a bigger advantage before the break with early chances through Edmond Tapsoba and Piero Hincapie, the latter hitting the bar with a header.

“Of course it hurts because we didn’t take our chances today,” said Frimpong, who gave Leverkusen the lead after 38 minutes.

“In the end, we lost because Leipzig took their chances better. It was a good game, but we have to score goals. We will continue to work on that in training.”

Fellow Bundesliga title hopefuls Borussia Dortmund also failed to win on Aug 31, slumping to a 0-0 draw with Werder Bremen.

Dortmund failed to pose any real threat aside from a 20m effort from substitute Karim Adeyemi in the second half, and Germany centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck was sent off in the 73rd minute after picking up a second yellow card for a tackle on Bremen striker Justin Njinmah.

“We have to perform differently, even if the team has undergone changes and has a new coach,” said Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin, who was appointed in June, told a press conference.

“It would be a very cheap excuse to say it is because of the transfer window. We have worked very well in the market. Still, we are expected to play better.”

But the 35-year-old recognised that his team’s defensive processes are already working well, as Dortmund have not conceded a goal after two games. REUTERS