Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso lamented his side's failure to hold onto a first-half lead at 10-man Atletico Madrid, who fought back to beat them 2-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday, saying his side lacked the maturity to cope with the pressure.

Victor Boniface is reportedly set to become one of the highest-paid players at Bayer Leverkusen as the German club kickstarts negotiations for a new deal.

Alonso's side are fourth in the new 36-team table, and know a win on Tuesday will put them in a strong position of qualifying automatically for the knockout stages.

Xabi Alonso's emergence as the frontrunner to replace Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid is based on his impressive managerial credentials. His success at Bayer Leverkusen, culminating in a Bundesliga title and German Cup victory,

Atletico Madrid host Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League with both sides vying for a place in the round of 16 at the end of the league phase. Diego Simeone's men come into this 11th in the UCL standings and one point off the top eight with Xabi Alonso's side fourth with 13 points from six games.

Could Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen repeat the chaotic classic that was their last encounter?Say what you will about the new Champions League format, it has served up a number of mouthwatering

Now, as reports heighten regarding Ancelotti’s potential departure this summer, rumours speculating Alonso as the Italian’s natural heir have also increased, especially with Leverkusen’s upcoming match against Los Blancos’ bitter rivals Atlético de Madrid.

Xabi Alonso has responded about potentially replacing Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid. The ex-Los Blancos midfielder has done a phenomenal job with Bundesliga ou

Alonso said his young team can learn from the defeat as the knockout stage approaches, with Leverkusen looking to reach the last 16 directly with a top-eight finish to avoid a playoff.

Carlo Ancelotti has denied reports claiming he will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season, saying he wants to remain at the Santiago Bernabeu for four more years.

It’s believed that Xabi Alonso is top of Real’s list as a replacement ... after he penned a new contract extension until 2026 in September. Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund are also said to be monitoring the player.