The fact that Stade Brest and Bayer Leverkusen had got off to an optimal start in the Champions League and that this encounter took place on the third of eight matchdays was not evident in the last minutes of the meeting between the French surprise participants and the German champions. Both sides showed no inclination to settle for a compromise when the score was 1-1. The Leverkusen team rushed after every ball as eagerly as if a winning goal was of dramatic importance, and the Bretons also looked for every opportunity to attack in the aging Roudourou stadium in the small town of Guingamp. After eight hectic minutes of added time, the score remained a fair draw – and half of the Leverkusen team, including the coach, appeared for a consultation with referee Ivan Kruzliak. His expression revealed that he had no interest in discussions: Granit Xhaka promptly picked up a yellow card; Xabi Alonso, already warned, escaped without penalty despite severe complaints – otherwise he would have had to make do with a place in the stands on his return to Liverpool’s Anfield Road on the next European Cup match day.
The game, which for a long time was dominated by two disciplined teams, had ignited towards the end due to itself – and due to Kruzliak’s stubborn decisions. Alonso was most upset that the referee didn’t even warn Frenchman Soumaila Coulibaly after his rigorous action against Bayer attacker Amine Adli. “The tackling was far too hard,” the coach said later, “we are very worried about Amine.” Rightly so, as the club confirmed the next day: Adli suffered a broken fibula from Coulibaly’s leg scissors and will be out at least until January.
Adli will be out for months
Alonso will miss the Moroccan Adli as he arranges his staff for piecework in the autumn. While he was often a reserve last year, the fast 24-year-old winger has recently played his way more and more into the foreground. The loss is all the more serious because other professionals from the second row were not convincing in Brest. Patrik Schick was again unable to make a name for himself as an alternative to Victor Boniface (who had stayed at home after a car accident). Against Brest he had no chance to score and didn’t have any significant action until he was substituted. Florian Wirtz scored the only goal.
Xabi Alonso gave no indication that the performance deficits in his rotation eleven had given him cause for concern. “I’m very happy with all the players,” he said and immediately gave the reason for the surprising compliment: “We need everyone, they have to feel the trust.” In the English autumn weeks, pragmatism is the top priority.
