05/03/2025

SPORTS WEDNESDAY | MAR 5, 2025

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Bayern irked by outsider tag

Alonso plays it cool ahead of all-German showdown

BAYER LEVERKUSEN coach Xabi Alonso said keeping a cool head would be the secret to making his side’s recent dominance of Bayern Munich count in the Champions League last 16. Managing in the top flight for just a second full season, Alonso may be inexperienced in

keep their slim hopes alive of defending their Bundesliga title. Speaking after the match, Alonso said domestic dominance meant little when the Champions League anthem soars through the stadium speakers. “It doesn’t matter. The next game is always the most important. It will be brutally difficult for us and it’ll be a big challenge.

GERMAN giants Bayern Munich are irritated by suggestions they are the outsiders in their high-stakes Champions League last 16 tie against Bayer Leverkusen. Bayern host Xabi Alonso’s defending German champions in Munich tomorrow (4am), with the return leg the following week in Leverkusen. With resources and history that dwarf anyone else in Germany, Bayern are almost always the favourites when taking on other German teams, regardless of venue or competition. But pundits and bookmakers alike have tipped Leverkusen to make it through to the quarterfinals, raising the ire of the Bavarians, particularly with Munich hosting this year’s final. Since appearing in back-to-back finals in 2012 and 2013, Bayern have only once failed to make it past the last 16 stage in 13 seasons – when they lost to Jurgen Klopp’s eventual champions Liverpool. Bayern powerbroker Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who alongside Uli Hoeness grew the club into a European powerhouse, said his team felt slighted and would react. “Everyone has declared Bayer Leverkusen the favourite. I know our team – and it pisses them off.”

important role for Spain in their Euro 2024 triumph last summer, until suffering a knee sprain in the quarterfinals. National team coach Luis de la Fuente believes his potential is limitless. “Pedri had to find himself, we don’t know what his best version is because he’s so good, he is infinite,” said De la Fuente. Under Flick he has continued to progress, playing in a deeper role than with the national team, behind an attacking midfielder – usually Dani Olmo or Gavi. It means he receives more of the ball and can dictate the game, which is also helping him morph into one of the team’s leaders, something Flick asked him to do. The coach hailed Pedri despite a 2-1 defeat by Atletico Madrid in December. “The way he played was incredible – that’s how I like to see him and how he guides the rest,” said Flick. Pedri signed a new Barcelona deal in January until 2030. “To prolong this dream is the best thing that’s happened to me for a long time,” said Pedri. “It’s been a long time since I felt like this, I’m enjoying football, which is the thing I like the most.” Flick was unsurprisingly delighted by the news. “You cannot compare him, he’s an unbelievable player, he enjoys playing football, getting the ball and it’s really great to see. “When he’s under pressure he wants the ball and he helps the team a lot, I’m very happy that he’s here for a long time.” – AFP Leverkusen to dump his side out of the tournament were not seeing the full picture. “Leverkusen are very clearly the favourites if you listen to German pundits,” Muller said at the weekend “And we, the absolute underdogs, obviously want to prove ourselves. Right, dear pundits? We shall see.” In his regular newsletter sent to fans on Sunday, Muller said it was “emotionally special to play against our biggest domestic rival on the big stage. “It’s about winning, but also about a lot of prestige. Personally, I think the little taunts between the two clubs are quite entertaining. I always liked that as a kid and fan.” Former Germany midfielder turned pundit Michael Ballack, who played for both Bayern and Leverkusen in a career which also took him to Stamford Bridge, said the Bavarian giants could not be counted out. “Many are betting on Leverkusen, but in my eyes Bayern are never outsiders, no matter what shape they’re in. “They’ve put a lot of things right with wins against Frankfurt and Stuttgart (in the league)” in recent weeks. Ballack, who lost the Champions League final with Leverkusen against a Zinedine Zidane-inspired Real Madrid in 2002, said Bayer was “on a par with Bayern” before the clash. – AFP

coaching terms, but the Spaniard knows a thing or two about Champions League success from his playing days. Alonso won the Champions League with both Liverpool and Real Madrid. During a career in which he also spent three seasons at Bayern, he reached the final three times and the semifinals on a further six occasions. On top of his club honours, Alonso also won two European Championships with Spain and the 2010 World Cup. Under Alonso, who took

“We’re in form. We want to show again we can bring the fight to Bayern. But we also know the Champions League and Bundesliga are totally different. “The Champions League is a bit more emotional. Emotional control is most important. Five bad minutes, and you’re gone.”

“We know each other very well and we’ve played recently,” said Alonso. “We need to try and deal with the bad moments we might have, because that’s the Champions League, to go through difficult

over in October 2022, Leverkusen have never lost to Bayern, winning three games and drawing the other three. But with this the first meeting on the European stage – and with this season’s final in Munich – Alonso’s big match experience could prove crucial for Leverkusen. On Saturday, Bayer Leverkusen thumped Eintracht Frankfurt 4-1 to stay eight points behind Bayern and

moments and not make many mistakes. “We’re playing at the Allianz, then we play at home. It’s Bayern, they’re the best team in

Germany. Not always the best team wins, but we will see.” – AFP Flick all praise for Pedri Attacking midfielder at peak of powers as Barca visit Benfica B ARCELONA face Benfica tomorrow (4am Malaysian time) in a Champions League last After a superb breakthrough season in 2020-21 in which Pedri also shone for Spain at Euro 2020 and played 73 matches for club and dividends. Pedri has already played 39 matches this season for Barcelona across all Veteran midfielder Thomas Muller, a two-time Champions League winner with Bayern, suggested those tipping

Xabi Alonso

PSG formidable prospect ahead of Paris showdown

THE doubts about Paris Saint-Germain’s ability to remain a force in the Champions League following the departure of Kylian Mbappe have faded amid a stunning run of form which sets the French club up perfectly for their mouthwatering last-16 showdown with Liverpool. “We will need to replace him with the team as a whole, and with maybe four, five or six new signings,“ was the response of coach Luis Enrique at the end of last season when he looked ahead to life without Real Madrid-bound Mbappe. With the France captain gone, PSG spent significant money on four new signings in the summer, with Joao Neves, Desire Doue, Willian Pacho and Matvey Safonov all arriving. However, the decision not to recruit a proven goal-scorer looked to be backfiring as they struggled in Europe while Randal Kolo Muani fell out of favour. PSG found the net just three times in their first five Champions League games this season, as defeats against Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich left them in danger of elimination before the knockout phase. Yet their form in the last three months has been sensational, with the statistics speaking for themselves. Since the 1-0 loss to Bayern on Nov 26, PSG are undefeated in 22 games in all competitions. A 4-1 win at home to Lille on Saturday was their 10th straight victory in all competitions and kept them unbeaten domestically this season. “Absolutely ruthless, at times magnificent,” was how sports daily L’Equipe described that display against France’s other remaining Champions League representatives. PSG have often choked in big Champions League games over the last decade, but might this time, against the team who finished first in the league phase, be different? “We are going to be playing against the best team in Europe, who qualified brilliantly, but it is not in our mentality to speculate, to try to protect ourselves, to be defensive,” Luis Enrique insisted. “We will attack and try to turn the game our way.” – AFP

competitions, more than in any of the three prior campaigns. Although his tally of five goals and six assists is solid but modest, his performances have been unparallelled. The 22-year-old is enjoying the best form of his career, producing an array of

16 first leg clash with their status as one of Europe’s elite sides restored, midfielder Pedri Gonzalez playing a key role in their revival. Hansi Flick’s side have been hailed as the most entertaining in the competition and the Canary Islander’s genius and creativity fuels the team’s engine. Five-time European champions Barcelona scored 28 goals in eight group stage matches as they finished second, behind Liverpool whose haul was 17, with Borussia Dortmund the next highest on 22. The Catalans notched five of those in Lisbon against Benfica in a thrilling 5-4 comeback win in January which clinched their place in the last 16. In the group stage they

c o u n t r y , injuries began to plague him. A study of his genetics last year helped create an

individual plan to help improve his fitness and it is p a y i n g

hamme r ed B a y e r n Munich 4-1 and beat Dortmund 3-2 as Flick’s side flexed their muscles.

Pedri’s quality and consistency has underpinned Barcelona’s fine season to date, with the Catalans top of La Liga, in the Copa del Rey semifinals and aiming for their first Champions League triumph since 2015. “I can’t describe (Pedri, he’s) incredible,” said Flick last week.

s up e r b passes in every match, as well as offering vital energy and showcasing his exquisite technical abilities. Pedri played an

Barcelona midfielder Pedri Gonzalez.