Xabi Alonso happy with Bayer Leverkusen's point away at Bayern Munich

Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso expressed his pride in his players following a resolute defensive performance in Saturday's 1-1 Bundesliga draw against league leaders Bayern Munich, where his defense was only breached by an exceptional goal.

After Robert Andrich opened the scoring for Leverkusen, Bayern's Aleksandar Pavlovic equalized with a remarkable half-volley from 25 meters, which surpassed goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky, leaving the visitors in third place in the standings.

Despite Bayern registering 18 shots compared to Leverkusen's three and dominating nearly 70% of possession, Alonso's side secured a valuable point, extending his unbeaten streak against the German powerhouse to four matches.

"The energy and conviction at Bayern is markedly different from last season; they are operating at full intensity both with and without the ball. It was a challenging encounter today, and we can take satisfaction from the point," Alonso remarked post-match.

"I required more vigor from the team, and I am pleased with their response. We were prepared to endure, and we accomplished that. The players exhibited the necessary discipline and passion.

"It was not straightforward; we struggled to maintain possession. Defending posed a significant challenge. The point is crucial... The entire team performed admirably. We scarcely had a moment to relax, but I am immensely proud of my players."

Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka, who assisted the opening goal, stated that their primary tactic was to remain compact and limit Bayern's scoring chances.

"We are self-reflective. Scoring three goals in every match is insufficient. If we perform well today and shift gears, we can achieve something," Xhaka noted.

"Defensively, we executed our plan effectively. The objective today was to stay compact and concede as little as possible. We certainly have the potential to do more with the ball, and everyone is aware of that.

"If someone had informed us prior to the match that we would secure a point, we would have accepted it."

Leverkusen will now focus on the Champions League, where they will host AC Milan on Tuesday.