Soccer
Xabi Alonso says Bayer Leverkusen could have key striker Patrik Schick back for their Champions League clash against Inter.
The Czech had scored five goals in three consecutive league games, including a hat-trick against Heidenheim, before missing Saturday’s 2-1 win over St. Pauli through injury.
Schick also netted in their 5-0 win over Salzburg last time out in the Champions League, having been in impressive form in the absence of Victor Boniface, who is also injured.
Leverkusen are aiming to become the first team to score against Inter in the competition this season, with Alonso hopeful he will have his striker back for the match.
“Patrik is getting closer and [on Tuesday] morning we are training again,” Alonso told a press conference. “We have to assess the situation day by day. But he is feeling better, and we are not ruling him out.
“We want to play each game to win, even tomorrow against a top side. That is our main focus. Our goal is to qualify for the first eight and to do our best in each competition.”
Patrik’s back! pic.twitter.com/UJaMrdP7Ee
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) December 9, 2024
The reigning German champions are in sixth place in the Champions League table on 10 points and are on track to qualify automatically for the last 16, but they will need all the firepower they can get against the Italians.
Inter are in second place on 13 having won four and drawn one of their five matches. Simone Inzaghi’s side have conceded the lowest-quality chances in the tournament this term, when factoring in the average expected goals (xG) of each shot a team has faced (0.07).
However, Leverkusen have won seven of their last eight home games in European competition (D1), all since the start of last season. They have outscored their opponents by 21 goals across these eight matches (27 scored, six conceded), while having 138 more shots than they have conceded in the process (206 for, 68 against).
“We are facing one of the best teams in Europe. But for us, we want to see where we are, and we play at home,” Alonso added.
“Great expectations from our side and hopefully we will be ready.
“It is a winning team. [Inter’s zero conceded goals] says that it is a team that has this consistency for the last years in the Champions League,” Alonso said.
“They are very strong, a very solid squad and with a very clear idea of what they want. They play with a lot of maturity.”
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