Bundesliga
Alonso plays down tension between Boniface and Buendia clash in Bayem Leverkusen win
By Dayo Awoniyi
Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso has moved to downplay any concerns after a heated exchange between Nigerian striker Victor Boniface and Argentine playmaker Emil Buendia during the team’s 4-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt.
The incident took place late in the match when Boniface and Buendia collided while vying for the opportunity to score a fifth goal.
Video footage showed Boniface pushing and pointing at Buendia, who appeared to respond with a shake of his head.
Alonso addressed the situation following the match, stating, “I spoke with Boni. I don’t have all the details, but he wanted to shoot. These things happen. We don’t want to make a big deal out of it.”
Despite Alonso’s calm response, the altercation has sparked renewed speculation about Boniface’s future at Leverkusen. The striker has struggled to regain his place in the starting lineup after a standout title-winning campaign last year. While Boniface boasts an impressive goal-per-game ratio, he has been relegated to the bench in favor of Patrik Schick, who has scored 22 goals in 32 appearances this season.
