Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen visited Simeone's Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night - The Athletic was watching both men

Kimmich - hailed by Julian Nagelsmann as a "world-class" deep-sitting midfielder - is perhaps cut from a similar cloth from a ball-playing perspective, having achieved an exemplary 90.3% career average for pass completion, as per WhoScored, also averaging 2.1 key passes per game, club and country.

The Spanish coach is the main candidate to replace Ancelotti at Real Madrid.

Bayer Leverkusen need to be ruthless to win at Atletico Madrid and edge closer to a direct spot in the Champions League last 16, manager Xabi Alonso said ahead of Tuesday's clash.

A little more than two years after a heartbreaking group stage elimination, Atlético de Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen will meet again in the Champions League on Tuesday in a vital showdown for positioning in the league phase table.

Following Bayern Munich's victory over Wolfsburg earlier, Bayer Leverkusen returned to within four points of the Bundesliga leaders with an 11th straight win across all competitions

Xabi Alonso stresses the importance of Bayer Leverkusens must-win match against Atletico Madrid to secure a top-eight finish in the Champions League.

Despite Bayern Munich’s best efforts to lure Xabi Alonso away from Bayer Leverkusen during the summer, the Spanish head coach made it clear that his future remained with the German

Bayern Munich moved seven points clear of Bayer Leverkusen with a 3-2 win against Wolfsburg on Saturday afternoon, but Vincent Kompany’s side were made to work for their win.Leon Goretzka worked

Xabi Alonso insisted that Bayer Leverkusen must fight in their Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid to keep their hopes of a top eight finish alive. Alonso’s side are fourth in the new 36-team table,

Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen will seek to keep the pressure on Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga when they welcome Monchengladbach to the BayArena. The Bundesliga was in danger of ...