The two standout German teams from last season are on opposite trajectories as the pressure mounts in the Bundesliga and Champions League.

Xabi Alonso believed that Bayer Leverkusen's Bundesliga victory over Borussia Dortmund on Friday showed the improved discipline of the reigning champions.

Out of the blue, Florian Wirtz was left out of Bayer Leverkusen's starting line-up for Friday's 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund.After the game, Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso explained that he had

Bayer Leverkusen's 3-2 victory at Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga restart on Friday showed the development and discipline of the German champions, coach Xabi Alonso said.

Florian Wirtz surprisingly started Bayer Leverkusen's Bundesliga match against Borussia Dortmund on Friday night from the bench. After his side's 3-2 win, head coach Xabi Alonso explained that Wirtz

“When we gathered for training this morning, they [Wirtz and Exequiel Palacios] were stuck in a traffic jam on a bridge in Cologne for a long time,” said Alonso. “They were absent from our preparation and our meeting and came straight to Dortmund,” which gave Alonso an ‘uneasy feeling’, per kicker.

As Bayer Leverkusen surges with a ten-game winning streak, Borussia Dortmund flounders under coach Nuri Sahin, with only one win in seven games. Leverkusen's resilience, despite key player injuries, contrasts with Dortmund's struggles due to loss of focus and missed opportunities.

Bayer Leverkusen has started the year with a big boost to its hopes of defending the Bundesliga title after beating a depleted Borussia Dortmund 3-2.

Injured Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface will not return for Friday's Borussia Dortmund clash, while Granit Xhaka is a doubt, coach Xabi Alonso said. Leverkusen could also be without midfield enforcer Xhaka for their visit to Dortmund because of an ankle complaint.

Borussia Dortmund fell to a narrow 3-2 defeat against Bayer Leverkusen in an entertaining encounter at Signal Iduna Park.

The German Bundesliga returns after the winter break with Borussia Dortmund at home to defending champions Bayer Leverkusen on Friday. Nuri Sahin's men host Xabi Alonso's side at Signal Iduna Park with BVB having won just one of their last five games pre-Christmas.

Florian Wirtz surprisingly started Bayer Leverkusen's Bundesliga match against Borussia Dortmund on Friday night from the bench. After his side's 3-2 win, head coach Xabi Alonso explained that Wirtz and Argentine midfielder Exequiel Palacios had missed Leverkusen's final preparations for the game on Friday morning.