Xabi Alonso says Bayer Leverkusen might have key striker Patrik Schick again for his or her Champions League conflict in opposition to Inter.
The Czech had scored 5 targets in three consecutive league video games, together with a hat-trick in opposition to Heidenheim, earlier than lacking Saturday’s 2-1 win over St. Pauli by means of damage.
Schick additionally netted of their 5-0 win over Salzburg final trip within the Champions League, having been in spectacular kind within the absence of Victor Boniface, who can also be injured.
Leverkusen are aiming to change into the primary crew to attain in opposition to Inter within the competitors this season, with Alonso hopeful he may have his striker again for the match.
“Patrik is getting nearer and [on Tuesday] morning we’re coaching once more,” Alonso informed a press convention. “Now we have to evaluate the scenario daily. However he’s feeling higher, and we aren’t ruling him out.
“We wish to play every recreation to win, even tomorrow in opposition to a high facet. That’s our principal focus. Our objective is to qualify for the primary eight and to do our greatest in every competitors.”
Patrik’s again! pic.twitter.com/UJaMrdP7Ee
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) December 9, 2024
The reigning German champions are in sixth place within the Champions League desk on 10 factors and are on observe to qualify robotically for the final 16, however they are going to want all of the firepower they will get in opposition to the Italians.
Inter are in second place on 13 having received 4 and drawn one in all their 5 matches. Simone Inzaghi’s facet have conceded the lowest-quality probabilities within the event this time period, when factoring within the common anticipated targets (xG) of every shot a crew has confronted (0.07).
Nevertheless, Leverkusen have received seven of their final eight dwelling video games in European competitors (D1), all because the begin of final season. They’ve outscored their opponents by 21 targets throughout these eight matches (27 scored, six conceded), whereas having 138 extra photographs than they’ve conceded within the course of (206 for, 68 in opposition to).
“We face top-of-the-line groups in Europe. However for us, we wish to see the place we’re, and we play at dwelling,” Alonso added.
“Nice expectations from our facet and hopefully we will likely be prepared.
“It’s a profitable crew. [Inter’s zero conceded goals] says that it’s a crew that has this consistency for the final years within the Champions League,” Alonso mentioned.
“They’re very sturdy, a really strong squad and with a really clear thought of what they need. They play with quite a lot of maturity.”
