{"id":3749,"date":"2026-09-08T14:16:52","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T14:16:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=3749"},"modified":"2026-09-08T14:16:52","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T14:16:52","slug":"chelsea-v-leeds-united-how-xabi-alonso-fared-against-daniel-farke-in-the-bundesliga","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footballars.xyz\/?p=3749","title":{"rendered":"Chelsea v Leeds United: How Xabi Alonso fared against Daniel Farke in the Bundesliga"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Chelsea take on Leeds United in the third round of the Carabao Cup at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night, and it sees Daniel Farke and Xabi Alonso reunite on the touchline.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Farke<\/a> is a familiar face for Chelsea<\/a> fans after the Blues played Leeds United three times last season. It was a mixed bag of results, with Leeds winning at Elland Road, but Chelsea winning in the FA Cup semi-final.<\/p>\n

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Wednesday night will be the fifth time Farke has managed against Chelsea as Leeds manager, and in all five games, he has faced a different man in the dugout. It was Mauricio Pochettino in a 2024 FA Cup clash.<\/p>\n

A game Chelsea won 3-2 at Stamford Bridge. Last season, Farke beat Enzo Maresca at Elland Road, drew with Liam Rosenior at Chelsea, and then lost to Calum McFarlane at Wembley. Now, he faces Alonso<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Daniel Farke and Xabi Alonso did battle twice in Germany<\/h2>\n

Alonso became Bayer Leverkusen manager back in October 2022, almost an entire season before he guided Leverkusen to an unbeaten campaign and secured the Bundesliga title at the end of 2024.<\/p>\n

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Let\u2019s settle this, Chelsea are better off with Reece James at right-back\u2026 \ud83e\udd14<\/h3>\n

Do you prefer James in midfield or at right-back \u2013 and why?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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He joined Leverkusen while Farke was in charge of Gladbach, with the Leeds manager\u2019s stint lasting the 2022-23 season before joining Leeds that summer. The two managers did battle on two occasions.<\/p>\n

The first saw Alonso secure a 3-2 win at Gladbach, a game in which Callum Hudson-Odoi came off the bench for Alonso\u2019s side. Then, in the return fixture, the two sides played out a 2-2 draw in May 2023.<\/p>\n

What can we expect from Wednesday night\u2019s clash?<\/h2>\n

If Alonso and Farke\u2019s two games on the touchline tell us anything, it\u2019s that there will be goals come Wednesday at Stamford Bridge. But Chelsea have the upper hand, not least because they are at home.<\/p>\n

This will be Farke\u2019s tenth career match against Chelsea, and his 3-1 win over Maresca\u2019s Chelsea back in December 2025 is the only time he has enjoyed victory against the Blues. He has lost on six occasions.<\/p>\n

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Alonso is likely to make a handful of changes on Wednesday night, but Leeds will be a tough team to beat. They remain unbeaten this season, unlike Chelsea, after four games \u2013 three of which were away.<\/p>\n

Two wins at Forest, a draw at home to Brentford, and then a draw against Brighton on Saturday, on the south coast. Chelsea will need to be at their best to beat Leeds and reach the fourth round of the Cup.<\/p>\n

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