Alonso warns Leverkusen must be perfect at Bayern
Bayer Leverkusen will need a perfect performance if it is to earn a result against Bundesliga title rival Bayern Munich on Sunday (AEST), according to coach Xabi Alonso.
Leverkusen became the first team to go unbeaten through a Bundesliga campaign as it clinched its maiden title last season, ending Bayern's 11-year reign in the German top flight.
Bayern is determined to bounce back under new boss Vincent Kompany, though, and sits three points clear of Leverkusen ahead of their huge meeting at Allianz Arena.
With four wins from four games and a goal difference of plus-13 (16 scored, three conceded), it has made the joint-best start to a season in Bundesliga history – only Bayern itself in 2016-2017 and Stuttgart in 1996-1997 have matched that record.
Alonso is expecting a huge challenge against his former club, saying: "The anticipation is great and we want to show a good game.
"We need a perfect performance to take something home with us. FC Bayern have made a good start to the season, it will be a challenge tomorrow.
"We need to play at our highest level, with and against the ball for 90 minutes. Bayern will go full throttle, we have to be ready for that."
Leverkusen has already conceded nine goals in the Bundesliga this term, the most it has allowed at this stage of a season since 2014-2015 – also nine.
The last reigning champion to ship nine goals in its first four games of a campaign was Kaiserslautern in 1998-1999, while the previous holder to concede more was Bayern in 1974-1975, with 11.
After a rollercoaster 4-3 win over Wolfsburg last time out, Alonso is desperate to see his team tighten up at the back.
"The team has to be compact, we have to defend together as a team. We have a clear gameplan, we can't be too soft and we can't allow large gaps," Alonso said.
"We have a clear gameplan as to how we want to play. We will give everything... If we don't defend well, it's hard for the players to win. We want to be consistent. We don't want to be up and down."
After the trip to Bayern, Leverkusen hosts Italian giant AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League next week.
