Leverkusen enjoy perfect warm up for Bayern last 16 clash says Alonso

Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso hailed his sides 4-1 win at Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga on Saturday as the ideal tune-up for next weeks mouth-watering Champions League last-16 showdown with title rivals Bayern Munich.

Leverkusen were never threatened by Frankfurt after a seven-minute blitz in the first half saw them score three goals and, apart from a defensive blunder, they had control of the match.

Leverkusen now prepare for Wednesdays Champions League first-leg clash at Bayern, who lead them in the Bundesliga race by nine points after Fridays 3-1 win at Vfb Stuttgart.

Im very happy, very proud, Alonso told reporters.

From the start, we showed we were fully focused, in every action, both with and without the ball.

A complete performance with a great scoreline. The perfect preparation for Wednesday night in the Champions League.

Alonso stressed the quality of the display against the third-placed side, who had suffered one home defeat all season.

I am very pleased, especially with the way we played - at a high tempo and with good control of the ball in the first 35 minutes - against a direct rival like Eintracht. It is always difficult to play against them, he said.

Alonso said his team were now ready for the first leg of the all-German clash, which will be the two teams first meeting in a major European competition.

We are ready for the next challenge - in Munich, against the best team in Germany. We will see. We are in a good moment, and we will give it our all, he said.

Are we favourites? We are not foolish. We are playing against FC Bayern ... We have to show them a lot of respect, Alonso added of a team who have won the six European Cups. REUTERS

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