Bayer Leverkusen’s manager Xabi Alonso needs to tap into the spirit of the “Miracle of Istanbul,” the remarkable comeback that he played a pivotal role in during Liverpool’s 2005 Champions League final victory, to turn the tide against Bayern Munich on Tuesday.
On that unforgettable occasion, Alonso, then a Liverpool midfielder, netted the equaliser against AC Milan as the Reds rallied from a 3-0 deficit at half-time to finish 3-3, eventually triumphing in the penalty shootout.
Following Bayern’s emphatic 3-0 victory in Munich for the first leg of their last-16 tie, Leverkusen and Alonso find themselves in a similar position, trailing by the same margin going into the return fixture.
As the reigning champions of Germany, Leverkusen, who had previously enjoyed a streak of six unbeaten matches against Bayern under Alonso, suffered a disappointing defeat in Munich last week. The Basque coach lamented what he termed a “self-inflicted” loss in which his team “gave everything” to their rivals.
The situation may be further complicated by an injury to key midfielder Florian Wirtz, who was forced off the field following a rough challenge just 14 minutes into Saturday’s match.
A ‘Significant Miracle’
With this season’s final set to take place in Munich, Bayern entered the first leg facing more pressure than Leverkusen.
However, after a calamitous error in goal, an unnecessary penalty, and poor marking on a Harry Kane header, Bayern now appear well-positioned for a place in the quarter-finals.
Leverkusen hasn’t reached the last eight of the Champions League since their run to the final in 2002, where they suffered defeat against Real Madrid, led by the phenomenal Zinedine Zidane.
Despite being a two-time Champions League winner as a player, Alonso has made it clear that he understands the magnitude of the task ahead, although he is aware that in football, anything can happen.
“After this match, we’ll need some time to recover – in football, we often witness significant miracles, and we will need one,” he remarked on Wednesday.
“This is football; it’s not my first encounter with the odds being stacked against us, and there’s another game at home.”
While Alonso may still be relatively new to coaching—this being his first Champions League season and his second full campaign at the elite level—he has already masterminded remarkable performances from his squad at Leverkusen.
Despite carrying the unenviable ‘Neverkusen’ tag for failing to secure a Bundesliga title in their 120-year existence, Alonso took over with the club facing relegation in October 2022.
He had an immediate transformative effect, steering the squad to a series of victories, including a 2-1 win over Bayern, marking Julian Nagelsmann’s final match in charge before his dismissal.
In the following season, Alonso guided Leverkusen to an unprecedented unbeaten league and cup double, alongside a run to the Europa League final.
That Europa League final defeat was Leverkusen’s only blemish in 53 matches last season.
Alonso’s team scored an impressive 17 goals in stoppage time across all competitions, showcasing a resilience and self-belief that lasted until the final whistle.
‘A Strong Response’
Both Leverkusen and Bayern faced setbacks in the Bundesliga on Saturday. Leverkusen fell 2-0 at home to Werder Bremen, a side that had only managed a single win in their last ten matches in 2025.
Bayern, meanwhile, suffered a surprising 3-2 defeat at home to relegation-threatened Bochum, marking the visitors’ first victory in Munich since 1991.
A win for Alonso’s squad would have narrowed the gap to league leaders Bayern to five points, delivering a psychological advantage ahead of the second leg.
A frustrated Alonso reflected on the disappointing performance against Bremen, a rarity for Leverkusen since his arrival.
“After the significant loss in Munich, we aimed to rejuvenate ourselves today. It didn’t pan out,” he expressed following Saturday’s defeat.
“Nothing worked today. Not on the wings, not in the centre. I take responsibility for that.”
Bayern’s Harry Kane has vowed a response from his team in Leverkusen after their unexpected defeat.
“This is a chance to demonstrate our reaction,” the England captain told reporters. “Whenever we’ve lost this season, we’ve approached the next game with determination.
“Leverkusen has suffered two consecutive losses, and they will look to make a strong comeback at home; we must be prepared for that.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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