Xabi Alonso, who himself has a past as a player at Real Madrid, naturally watched as the Spanish club defeated Manchester City.
Last night it seemed that Bayer Leverkusen would finally end their incredible unbeaten streak this season. They had accumulated 43 matches without a loss, and no, the German team still hasn’t been defeated this season.
Thanks to Jeremie Frimpong’s goal – almost at the buzzer – who now has thirteen goals in all competitions, and tied the game, they are now at 44.
You can’t count them out. They have proven time and again throughout the year that with a bit of faith – added to the effort and talent of the squad – they have rescued points and won games in the final moments of many matches.
This happened against Borussia Dortmund, Augsburg, Hoffenheim, Qarabag – in both matches – and last night against West Ham.
Frimpong was the hero
The Bundesliga champion had done the groundwork in the first leg. Hoffman and Boniface scored in the last ten minutes of that match, and it seemed that the tie was decided. But West Ham, who had a remarkable first half, managed to ‘dry out’ Europe’s trendy team.
Michail Antonio gave the ‘hammer’ team hope with a goal at the fifteenth minute, and although they could have scored a second, Leverkusen held on.
And just when it seemed that Xabi Alonso’s team would suffer their first defeat of the season one of the standout names of the team appeared: Jeremie Frimpong. He played the hero and kept the unbeaten streak alive.
Madrid-style comebacks?
After the match ended, Xabi Alonso was asked about the Manchester City-Real Madrid game. And he said that he watched such a great match because he loves football.
“We know the character and mentality Madrid has in a very difficult match. They are in the semi-finals and it’s going to be a very interesting semi-final against Bayern,” he said after qualifying his team for the semi finals of the Europa League.
“Of course, I watched the match,” he added. “I love football, I love watching the quarter finals of the Champions League, the Europa League, any competition.”
