Alonso praises Joao Pedro's 'desire' after seven-goal Brighton thriller
Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso singled out Joao Pedro for praise after a dramatic seven-goal encounter with Brighton. Alonso highlighted the player's desire and work rate as key contributions to his side's display. The match featured an unusually high number of goals, suggesting an open, end-to-end contest between the two sides.
Read the full story at bbc.co.ukPublic backing from a manager carries weight, and Alonso's words on Joao Pedro signal growing trust in the forward's role within Leverkusen's setup. A seven-goal thriller points to defensive fragility on both sides but also to attacking quality that Leverkusen will be keen to harness going forward. For Brighton, conceding heavily in a high-profile friendly or European fixture raises questions about their defensive shape ahead of the competitive season.
Context added by Socc360, not by bbc.co.uk.
Data source: bbc.co.uk (via Socc360). Last updated .
More epl stories
Ollie Watkins completes move from Aston Villa to Al-Hilal
Manchester United 5-2 Ipswich: Fernandes brilliance, Maguire's controversial goal, and Rashford's performance analyzed
Why Chelsea need more than a new goalkeeper to be title challengers
Never miss a moment.
Live scores, goal alerts and Live Activities on your Lock Screen — get Socc360 for iOS.