Bundesliga title 'most important' for Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso said his side would go "full throttle" until the end of the year in its quest to defend its Bundesliga crown.
Leverkusen needed a last-gasp winner from Nordi Mukiele to beat Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League in midweek, moving it up to fourth on the 36-team standings.
Alonso's side has now won its past six games in all competitions, scoring 16 goals during that run, as its slow start to the season is now firmly in the rearview mirror.
While Leverkusen is unbeaten in its past 23 Bundesliga away games, it faces a stern test at WWK Arena against Augsburg this weekend.
Augsburg has collected 14 points at home in the Bundesliga this season, with only Borussia Dortmund (19) and Bayern Munich (16) claiming more on home soil.
"The past few times we've seen that it's not easy to play in Augsburg," Alonso said.
Augsburg has only picked up more points from its first seven home matches of a top-flight campaign in 2014-2015 (15).
It has also won 10 points from its past four home games, and has kept back-to-back clean sheets on home soil for the first time since 2023 with three in a row.
But Alonso has reason to be confident of claiming all three points, with his side winning three consecutive Bundesliga games for the first time this season.
Leverkusen has also celebrated 22 top-flight wins in total in 2024, the same as 2023, while another triumph this weekend would set a new club record.
Alonso's side, however, is seven points behind league leader Bayern Munich, and the Leverkusen boss said that his priority this season is winning the Bundesliga again.
"For us, the Bundesliga is the most important competition ... every game is important and intense," Alonso said.
"We are currently maintaining our focus and momentum very well. Not only are we having a good moment on the pitch, but we also have a good mentality.
"We want to go full throttle in every game, especially against an intense opponent like Augsburg."
