Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso is sweating on midfielder Granit Xhaka's fitness ahead of this weekend's blockbuster clash with Borussia Dortmund.
Bundesliga action resumes this weekend after a three-week winter break, with the reigning champions hoping to close the four-point gap with leaders Bayern Munich.
But Leverkusen could be without influential midfielder Xhaka, who has played in every match for Alonso's side in all competitions this season.
The Swiss international has scored two goals and provided five assists in 25 games this season, starting in 23 of those encounters for Leverkusen.
However, Xhaka suffered an ankle injury in training earlier this week, although Alonso hoped the 32-year-old would be fit enough to play against Dortmund on Friday.
“Tomorrow we will train a little and then we will decide,” Alonso said at a press conference. “We just need a little more time.”
“He sprained his ankle a little bit, but there is still hope. There are still more than 24 hours until the match, there is still time.”
“We have to wait. It's not serious, but we have to see if he can be with us tomorrow.”
Alonso also said Xhaka did not complete full training on Thursday, putting his inclusion in the squad for the trip to the Westfalenstadion in jeopardy.
After a difficult start to the 2024 season, Leverkusen ended the year on a high with five consecutive Bundesliga wins.
Leverkusen also won its last eight league matches. The last time they won nine in a row was from September to November 2023 (14).
But they are up against a Dortmund side who are yet to be beaten at home in the Bundesliga this season after the eleven games they have played (W8 D3).
However, Leverkusen are unbeaten in 24 away games in the Bundesliga (W18 D6 – a current club record). This means that the longest current unbeaten home streak in the Bundesliga meets the longest away unbeaten streak this Friday.
“At home they are very strong and they play with great quality,” Alonso said. “We will need our best game and a good mentality and stability.
“We will need a perfect performance from us. We have had enough time to prepare for this and we expect a top match against a top opponent,” he concluded.
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