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BERLIN. — Xabi Alonso was sent off on Saturday as 10-man Bayern Munich laboured to a goalless draw at Bayer Leverkusen at the end of a turbulent week for the German Bundesliga soccer leaders.
Spain midfielder Alonso saw red after earning two second-half bookings in quick succession at the BayArena.
Having brought down junior German international Julian Brandt in the second-half, a tactical foul on Leverkusen’s star striker Javi Hernandez saw Alonso sent off.

It was the fifth time Alonso, who has played for Liverpool and Real Madrid, has been sent off in his club career and it was his first red in Germany.
“That wasn’t a yellow card,” said Bayern coach Pep Guardiola after seeing a replay of Alonso’s bodycheck on Hernandez.
“We struggled in the first half to put three or four passes together. If you can’t do that, it’s impossible to play.” — AFP.