Xabi Alonso, head coach of Bayer Leverkusen and former Real Madrid midfielder, made statements regarding his future following reports that Carlo Ancelotti would not continue with the Spanish club next season.

The two standout German teams from last season are on opposite trajectories as the pressure mounts in the Bundesliga and Champions League.

Xabi Alonso believed that Bayer Leverkusen's Bundesliga victory over Borussia Dortmund on Friday showed the improved discipline of the reigning champions.

Florian Wirtz surprisingly started Bayer Leverkusen's Bundesliga match against Borussia Dortmund on Friday night from the bench. After his side's 3-2 win, head coach Xabi Alonso explained that Wirtz

Bayer Leverkusen's 3-2 victory at Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga restart on Friday showed the development and discipline of the German champions, coach Xabi Alonso said.

“When we gathered for training this morning, they [Wirtz and Exequiel Palacios] were stuck in a traffic jam on a bridge in Cologne for a long time,” said Alonso. “They were absent from our preparation and our meeting and came straight to Dortmund,” which gave Alonso an ‘uneasy feeling’, per kicker.

Bayer Leverkusen has started the year with a big boost to its hopes of defending the Bundesliga title after beating a depleted Borussia Dortmund 3-2.

Injured Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface will not return for Friday's Borussia Dortmund clash, while Granit Xhaka is a doubt, coach Xabi Alonso said. Leverkusen could also be without midfield enforcer Xhaka for their visit to Dortmund because of an ankle complaint.

The German Bundesliga returns after the winter break with Borussia Dortmund at home to defending champions Bayer Leverkusen on Friday. Nuri Sahin's men host Xabi Alonso's side at Signal Iduna Park with BVB having won just one of their last five games pre-Christmas.

Borussia Dortmund looks a shadow of its former ... Ten wins in a row in all competitions have allowed Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen — the defending domestic league champion — to put pressure ...

Florian Wirtz was named as a starter in Bayer Leverkusen’s line-up to face Borussia Dortmund on Friday evening but when he didn’t appear on the pitch, questions were asked.Prior to the game, Xabi

Florian Wirtz surprisingly started Bayer Leverkusen's Bundesliga match against Borussia Dortmund on Friday night from the bench. After his side's 3-2 win, head coach Xabi Alonso explained that Wirtz and Argentine midfielder Exequiel Palacios had missed Leverkusen's final preparations for the game on Friday morning.