Xabi Alonso insisted that Bayer Leverkusen's top-of-the-table collision with Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich will not decide where the title will end this season.
Leverkusen, who won their first Bundesliga -Kroon in previous term, is eight points behind the Vincent Kompany side on the way to Saturday's collision in the Bayarena.
Since the three points for a profit era were indeed introduced in the German top flight, no team made a gap of that size after 21 games and won the title.
Leverkusen, however, enjoy an unbeaten run of five games about all competitions against Bayern and win their most recent meeting in the DFB-Pokal round of 16.
The last German club that would go longer without losing the 33-way Bundesliga champions were Hamburg from 2007 to 2009 (six games).
Alonso has devised all those victories and has become the first head coach in the history of Bundesliga who remains unbeaten in his first five competitive games against Bayern.
“It's not a last no, no,” Alonso told a press conference. “We will look at the rankings after the game, but it is not a final. We need an almost perfect performance against Bayern to have a chance.
“This Bayern is really dominant in many, many of the games. In the Bundesliga they have this collective dominance and then this individual quality with Harry Kane, (Jamal) Musiala … top, top players.”
With 46 points from 21 games, this is the second best Bundesliga season in Leverkusen behind only their title-winning campaign in 2023-24 (55 points), even though they start slowly.
The side of Alonso also comes fresher in the game than their opponents, because they have not been involved in Champions League promotion in midweek after ending in the top eight of the new 36-team League of the competition, so automatically eligible for The last 16.
In the meantime, Bayern came away with a slim benefit in their play-off first leg against Celtic on Wednesday, with Michael Olise and Harry Kane on Target in a 2-1 triumph in Glasgow.
Alonso held his cards close to his chest when he was asked about a game plan for this weekend's blockbuster confrontation, in particular about whether he would use a defense of three or four people.
“We expect a top game against a top team. There is a moment for everything in a game. We have prepared our ideas,” he said.
“We are competitive and to ensure that we have to be well prepared. Bayern is dominant, at home or gone. They are the best opponents you can have in the competition.
“Bayern is in a better position in the rankings, but we play at home. We will show the necessary energy.”
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