Bayer Leverkusen Coach Xabi Alonso Concerned About the Performance of Spanish Teams in European Competitions

• Real Madrid were the only Spanish football team to progress out of the Champions League group stages
• Xabi Alonso previously won the Champions League with Real during a successful period for La Liga teams
• The Bayer Leverkusen coach says he is concerned about the state of Spanish football at the moment

How the mighty have fallen.

Spanish sides have been a powerhouse in European competitions of late, but their dismal showing this season has left Xabi Alonso wondering what went wrong.

Barcelona, Sevilla and Atletico Madrid were all dumped out of the Champions League group stage, with only Real Madrid moving on to represent La Liga in the Round of 16.

Barcelona were dumped out due to Inter Milan's win over Viktoria Plzen. Sevilla finished behind Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund.

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Atletico were eliminated as a result of a draw with Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen side. As reported by the Daily Mail, Alonso said it was concerning only Real had gone through.

'The fact that only one of four La Liga teams have qualified means something has gone wrong," he said.

Spanish sides have dominated previously

Alonso was part of a Real side that won the tournament during a time when Spanish sides were dominant in Europe.

In the span of five consecutive years, Madrid won the trophy four times while Barcelona took the honours on the other occasion.

English sides have enjoyed more success of late in the competition, with the two all-English finals being contested in the past four years.

Champions League: All the clubs that have qualified for the round of 16 as Barcelona, Atletico and Juventus exit

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Twelve teams have already booked their spots in the Round 16 of the Champions League, with four more facing an anxious wait ahead of the final round.

Inter Milan, Liverpool and Porto are some of the teams who qualified for the next round on Wednesday, in a dramatic night that saw Barcelona and Atletico Madrid drop to the Europa League.

Source: Sports Brief News