Tremendous Eagles ahead, Victor Boniface, was left on the bench as his aspect fell to a 3-0 defeat towards Bayern Munich within the first leg of their Champions League knockout tie on the Allianz Enviornment on Wednesday.
Leverkusen supervisor Xabi Alonso opted for a tactical strategy that noticed each of his trusted centre-forwards, Boniface and Patrik Schick, begin on the bench. As an alternative, the Spanish tactician positioned his religion in Moroccan ahead Amine Adli to steer the assault within the essential first-leg encounter.
Schick was launched within the 81st minute as considered one of Die Werkself’s 5 second-half substitutes however had little affect on the sport.
Leverkusen struggled to mount a comeback as Jamal Musiala’s strike, sandwiched between two Harry Kane objectives, secured a commanding 3-0 benefit for Bayern heading into the second leg.
Boniface’s enjoying time in query forward of essential second leg
Since coming back from damage in late January, Boniface has struggled for constant sport time below Alonso.
The Nigerian ahead has not began in Leverkusen’s final 4 matches, making solely substitute appearances. Notably, he was an unused substitute of their goalless Bundesliga conflict towards Bayern Munich on 15 February.
Alonso has rotated his attacking choices, preferring Nathan Tella, Patrik Schick, and Amine Adli in latest weeks. Boniface’s final begin got here in a 0-0 draw with Wolfsburg on 8 February, and he has performed simply 141 minutes throughout seven Bundesliga video games since his return.
His most up-to-date purpose got here in Leverkusen’s 3-2 DFB-Pokal quarter-final victory over Köln on 5 February.
As Leverkusen put together to host Bayern within the second leg on 13 March, questions stay over whether or not Alonso will belief Boniface to steer the cost of their bid to overturn a three-goal deficit.
To date this season, the 24-year-old has made 19 appearances for Die Werkself, beginning 13, scoring 9 objectives, and offering one help whereas averaging 57 minutes per sport in all competitions.
