Xabi Alonso Delighted as Bayer Leverkusen Triumphs with 10 Players Against Hoffenheim

Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso commended his squad for their ability to dominate the match even when reduced to 10 players, as they secured a 3-1 victory over Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Sunday.

Leverkusen held a comfortable 3-0 lead when Alejandro Grimaldo received a second yellow card just prior to Hoffenheim’s Gift Orban finding the net, which momentarily raised hopes for the visitors of a comeback.

However, the German champions successfully preserved their lead, keeping them in the runner-up position in the league, still six points adrift of table-toppers Bayern Munich.

“Today, we essentially played two matches: 60 minutes with 11 players and 30 minutes with 10. We performed admirably in both phases. Even with a player less, we maintained control of the game,” Alonso stated during a press conference.

“We built a significant lead early on, and the first 15 minutes after half-time were solid as well. We didn’t concede many opportunities and generated some ourselves. Once the red card was issued, we had to reorganise quickly to regain our rhythm.”

Emiliano Buendia made his debut for Leverkusen, having joined on loan from Aston Villa, coming on as a substitute in the first half, but he was subsequently replaced due to the earlier incident.

Alonso expressed his regret about the decision but acknowledged it was necessary to maintain the team’s composure under challenging circumstances.

“Regrettably, I had to substitute Buendia off. However, it was the right choice,” he reflected.

“While our possession dwindled after going down a man, we managed our situation fairly well. Moving forward, we must work on avoiding unnecessary yellow cards for minor infractions.”