Leverkusen struggling to cope with injuries due to backlog of matches, says Alonso

Bayer Leverkusen are facing a number of injury problems ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League home game against RB Salzburg and coach Xabi Alonso has stressed he needs all his players to perform in a busy schedule.

French striker Martin Terrier added to Leverkusen’s long list of injuries on Sunday when the 27-year-old fractured his right forearm minutes before the 5-2 win over Heidenheim.

Earlier, striker Jonas Hofmann was ruled out for the rest of the year with a muscle injury in his left thigh. He joins striker Victor Bonifas, striker Amina Adli and centre-backs Nordi Mukiela and Januel Belochyan on the bench.

“We need the whole squad, but with six injured players, each of them is even more important. Playing every three days is very intense. It’s a special situation in which we need every player,” Alonso told reporters.

Injury concerns aside, Leverkusen have struggled with form in recent weeks, drawing 1-1 at Brest before losing 4-0 to Liverpool in Europe’s top competition.

Leverkusen, who won the domestic double last season, are 13th in the Champions League table and will face 30th-placed Salzburg, but Alonso said Pepijn Lijnders’ side should not be taken lightly.

“We know how important the upcoming home matches against Salzburg and Inter are. We expect a good opponent tomorrow, Salzburg are playing with great intensity and dynamism. We want to get these important points at the BayArena,” said the Spaniard .

“We need the energy of the fans. In difficult moments they can influence us and push us.”