Xabi Alonso ready for ‘intense’ game against Stuttgart | OneFootball

Thirteen goals have been shared across the last three meetings between Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart, and on Friday night the two teams meet at the BayArena in the Bundesliga. Expecting a difficult game, Bayer’s Xabi Alonso stated he’s “exhausted” after each meeting.

“I’m exhausted after every game against Stuttgart,” said the Spaniard in his pre-match press conference. “It’s always very intense. Even more so for the players, of course, but also for us. There are always big emotions.”

Enthralling fixture between Bayer Leverkusen and Stuttgart in the Supercup

Tonight’s meeting will be the second time the two teams have played each other this season. Bayer and Stuttgart met in the DFL Supercup, a game in which Alonso’s side were outplayed for 90 minutes despite taking an early 11 minute lead through Victor Boniface.

Patrik Schick then equalised with two minutes remaining before Die Werkself won on penalties.

“What we did there was unbelievable,” added Alonso.

Last season’s champions, Bayer Leverkusen, find themselves third and are already five points behind Bayern Munich after eight games. Stuttgart meanwhile have been unable to replicate last season’s form after finishing the 2023/24 season as runners-up, with the Swabian club currently sitting eighth.

GGFN | Daniel Pinder