21 January 2024 , 11:20
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Xabi Alonso saw his Bayer Leverkusen side maintain their unbeaten start to to the Bundesliga season - with Pep Guardiola's 28-match record now firmly in his sights.
The former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder, 42, has won plenty of plaudits since taking his first senior job in Germany at Leverkusen back in 2022 and has already been touted as a future Reds manager.
Leverkusen's latest triumph came courtesy of a rousing late fightback at RB Leipzig, who twice took the lead against Alonso's charges. But a 91st minute winner from Piero Hincapie was enough to seal a 3-2 win for the Bundesliga leaders.
The result means Alonso has guided Leverkusen to 15 wins in their 18 matches so far this term and is still yet to taste defeat in the league - a feat that Jurgen Klopp never managed during his time in Germany.
The former Borussia Dortmund manager was unable to put together an unbeaten start spanning 18 matches in the league before he was lured to Liverpool. Guardiola did manage to get to 28 matches with Bayern Munich, though, and will take some beating.
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Regardless of whether Alonso is able to go on and eclipse Guardiola's best start to a season in Germany, the Spaniard has already demonstrated his coaching credentials at an elite level.
Former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka, who has been an influential figure in Alonso's team since joining in the summer, lauded the former Liverpool man earlier this year.
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Pep Guardiola oversaw a 28 matches unbeaten start to a Bundesliga season at Bayern Munich (Boris Streubel/Bongarts)The Swiss midfielder told reporters: "Xabi was an unbelievable midfielder. He won everything except the Europa League - because he never played Europa League. But he's an example of a new generation of coaching I think. He's not only in the meetings and (in front of) the tactical board, but he's showing himself.
"Passing for example. His passing is going on social media and of course it's a different feeling when you are his player because you see what he means. To have someone like this, with this experience, with this personality, gives you a lot of confidence and do much more than you did before."
Leverkusen are now over halfway through the Bundesliga season and currently lead Bayern Munich by seven points. The reigning champions do, however, have two games in hand on Alonso's side.