ALONSO 3 KANE 0
Xabi shows why he’s the worthy favourite to succeed Klopp
IN THAT final moment, as things became desperate, Xabi Alonso and Harry Kane made the same reaction, rocking sharply backwards with apprehension.
Kane was in possession on the edge of Leverkusen’s area, Alonso was stood in his technical area unable to do any more. But England’s captain over-hit his pass, the BayArena erupted and the man who might just be Jurgen Klopp’s successor had his biggest moment as a manager.
This night could not have been more wildly contrasting. Where everything went wrong for Kane and his ramshackle Bayern Munich team, Bayer Leverkusen were breathtaking, executing the plan Alonso had devised so perfectly that they dismantled Germany’s perennial champions. By the end, it was 3-0 but it could have been double that scoreline. Leverkusen ran through Munich like a bolt of lightning. Alonso’s fingerprints were all over it from start to finish. No wonder he is favourite to be Liverpool’s next manager.
Kick-off was delayed. There have been protests across Germany all weekend about the prospect of outside investment in the Bundesliga and it was no different here, with tennis balls, rubber toys and other objects littering the home goalmouth.
You wondered whether the false start would have a negative impact on Leverkusen, who haven’t been in this position for years, but the opposite was true: Bayern were the team riddled with anxiety and simply couldn’t get going once the contest got under way.
Take Eric Dier: his first three actions were two massively overhit long balls that careered out of play and a mis-control that almost led to him being caught in possession. He wasn’t alone, though, and it said everything that Manuel Neuer was similarly shaky.
But don’t they say teams reflect the character of their managers? You couldn’t help but make a comparison between Thomas Tuchel, who leapt about and maniacally grabbed his baseball cap in a manner that reminded you of Basil Fawlty before an impending calamity.
Alonso, on the other hand, exuded cool, sartorially and professionally. Yes, there was a burning intensity — he let rip at Bayern’s Aleksandar Pavlovic when the midfielder threw himself to the ground theatrically — but he was always in control. So were his team.
Leverkusen’s football in the first period was, in moments, breathtaking — short, rat-a-tat-tat passes pinging triangularly in between black shirts. One moment it would seem they were boxed in, the next acres of space had opened up and they were away. This, be sure, was their coach’s influence.
Such nimble play provided the avenue for the opening goal. Leverkusen went thrillingly back to front in the 18th minute, forcing Dayot Upamecano to make a desperate clearance. But he only found touch and from the resulting throwin, the hosts took the lead.
Bayern dithered, Robert Andrich charged down the left and fizzed a ball across the six-yard box. Arriving at the back post unnoticed, Josip Stanisic finished coolly. The Croatia right-back refused to celebrate — he’s on loan from Bayern — but he was the only one who didn’t.
A huge goal and a huge moment. There is a long way to go in this race but Leverkusen look equipped for the challenge.
They are fresh and vibrant, the antithesis of Bayern, who resembled a stale loaf. Kane would have imagined stamping his authority all over this fixture but he barely got a touch.
At one point in the second period, he tried to impart some instructions but nobody was listening. A penny for his thoughts when, on the day Tottenham moved back into the top four, he saw the medal he craves so desperately slide a little further from his reach.
By that point, Leverkusen had doubled their lead and how beautifully they did it. Down the left side they went again, Nathan Tella inviting Alejandro Grimaldo to dash forward, the Spaniard giving the ball back to the young Nigerian before bursting into the area: one-two, one-two, 2-0. Grimaldo’s finish was glorious, speared high into a tight angle that Neuer couldn’t protect. More bedlam. Up in the stands, Rudi Voller — a Leverkusen legend and one of the German greats — sat shaking his head, seemingly unable to comprehend what was happening.
He could believe everything he was seeing, all right. The longest unbeaten run in Europe continues and the gloss was applied when Jeremie Frimpong scored from an improbable angle, with Neuer stranded at the other end of the field.
All over the continent, they will be watching what is unfolding here. And you can be sure they will be paying the closest of attention on Merseyside.
■ REAL MADRID were last night sweating on the fitness of Jude Bellingham after the England midfield star suffered an ankle injury in Real Madrid’s 4-0 thrashing of Girona.
Bellingham went down clutching his left ankle which was heavily strapped when he left the Bernabeu.
Earlier, the 20-year-old had turned in another dazzling display as leaders Real cruised five points clear in La Liga by demolishing their nearest challengers in the title race.
After Vinicius Junior opened the scoring early, Bellingham grabbed a brace either side of half-time.
Rodrygo completed the rout with Real’s fourth just after an hour.