Borussia Mönchengladbach – Bayer Leverkusen: Xabi Ball Delivers A Statement Of Intent (0-3)

Known for his passes from deep as a player, Xabi Alonso’s coaching journey has appeared to follow a pathway we expect, but perhaps not the execution in his time in Germany. The summer transfer window has appeared to address this and the result could change the Bundes-phere.

Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker.

Another year, another spin of the wheel to decide who would lead Gladbach into the new Bundesliga campaign. This time they landed on Gerardo Seoane, formerly of Leverkusen, to try and steady a ship that hasn’t found its course since long-term sporting director Max Eberl left the club. Seoane has taken over at a pivotal time; experienced attacking components such as Jonas Hofmann, Lars Stindl and Marcus Thuram all left in the summer. Tomáš Čvančara, who scored twice on the first match day and Armenian youngster Grant-Leon Ranos, plucked from Bayern’s ranks, has been assembled to replace these goals, but Gladbach needs much more stability to break out of two consecutive 10-place finishes.

The Bundesliga hierarchy seems cemented with Bayern, Dortmund and Leipzig comfortably holding Champions League positions. So where does this leave Leverkusen, the team with the third-highest wage bill and whose annual salary looms over both Freiburg and Union Berlin? Both clubs finished above Xabi Alonso’s men and Moussa Diaby is a big loss to Leverkusen. But they have reinforced in other areas, Alejandro Grimaldo from Benfica, Hofmann from Gladbach and Granit Xhaka are solid additions and a platform for a fully fit Florian Wirtz to dazzle in the final third.

Just a single change occurred for Gladbach, from their . . .