Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen visited Simeone's Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night - The Athletic was watching both men

Kimmich - hailed by Julian Nagelsmann as a "world-class" deep-sitting midfielder - is perhaps cut from a similar cloth from a ball-playing perspective, having achieved an exemplary 90.3% career average for pass completion, as per WhoScored, also averaging 2.1 key passes per game, club and country.

The Spanish coach is the main candidate to replace Ancelotti at Real Madrid.

Bayer Leverkusen need to be ruthless to win at Atletico Madrid and edge closer to a direct spot in the Champions League last 16, manager Xabi Alonso said ahead of Tuesday's clash.

A little more than two years after a heartbreaking group stage elimination, Atlético de Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen will meet again in the Champions League on Tuesday in a vital showdown for positioning in the league phase table.

Following Bayern Munich's victory over Wolfsburg earlier, Bayer Leverkusen returned to within four points of the Bundesliga leaders with an 11th straight win across all competitions

Xabi Alonso stresses the importance of Bayer Leverkusens must-win match against Atletico Madrid to secure a top-eight finish in the Champions League.

Now, as reports heighten regarding Ancelotti’s potential departure this summer, rumours speculating Alonso as the Italian’s natural heir have also increased, especially with Leverkusen’s upcoming match against Los Blancos’ bitter rivals Atlético de Madrid.

Having lost their long-held German title to Bayer Leverkusen last term, Bayern Munich are once again having a punch-up with Xabi Alonso's team at the top of the table. Both teams won tough away games at the weekend (Leverkusen won 3-2 at Borussia Dortmund on Friday night,

Xabi Alonso insisted that Bayer Leverkusen must fight in their Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid to keep their hopes of a top eight finish alive. Alonso’s side are fourth in the new 36-team table,

Florian Wirtz scored twice and provided an assist as Bayer Leverkusen moved back to within four points of Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich.