How do you follow up an historic upset? That’s the question facing Xabi Alonso and Bayer Leverkusen as they seek to prove they belong among European soccer’s top teams after ending Bayern Munich’s 11-year reign in the German league last season.

Saturday's Bundesliga big game between leaders Bayern Munich and champions Bayer Leverkusen is not a title-deciding game even though the latter are eight points behind the Bavarians, Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso said on Friday.

LEVERKUSEN – Asked if coach Xabi Alonso could one day be commemorated outside Bayer Leverkusen’s BayArena home, club chief executive Fernando Carro said that “after last year, it’s already enough for a statue”.

Bayer Leverkusen find themselves eight points adrift of leaders Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, and take on Vincent Kompany's side next.

Saturday’s Bundesliga big game between leaders Bayern Munich and champions Bayer Leverkusen is not a title-deciding game even though the latter are eight points behind the Bavarians, Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso said on Friday.

Bayern Munich aim to end a winless run against Bayer Leverkusen when they visit the defending champions on Saturday with a chance to 11 points clear of them at the top of the Bundesliga. The top of the table clash is also an anticipated duel between Germany's most gifted young players in the form of Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala,