All ports open. Bayern’s hegemony has officially been broken. After eleven titles in a row, another team is on the Bundesliga honors list: Bayer Leverkusen shook off its image of eternal second and became champions for the first time. Tears of joy rolled in the Bayer Arena, the beer flowed. And his supporters, they couldn’t hold them back anymore. A popular festival broke out.
Ten minutes before the end they could no longer be contained. Xabi Alonso had feared it. That’s what a first title does to people. Gates opened. Supporters gathered at the edge of the field. A number of them were already on the field after Wirtz’s 4-0 – not smart. Alonso and Wirtz returned to their places, but they had to wait for the final whistle. When hat-trick hero Wirtz made it 5-0, even more people jumped up – all hell let loose. The ref blew the whistle. Crazy scenes followed.
The championship bowl is for later, as are the real festivities. Yet the Bundesliga has now been completely decided. Leverkusen won 5-0 against Werder Bremen. With five matchdays to go, Bayern can no longer bridge the sixteen-point gap.
Leverkusen took full advantage of an off-season at FC Bayern this season, which never lost steam. Xabi Alonso’s team, one without major stars, did almost everything perfectly. Twenty-nine matches played, twenty-five wins, four draws, not a single loss. The counter in all competitions now stands at 43 matches without defeat. His much-vaunted Spanish trainer has created a machine. In his first full season as coach, he is master. Punishment.
© AFP
Victor Boniface (ex-Union) put Leverkusen on the way to the title from the spot. Strong holders Granit Xhaka (ex-Arsenal) and his next big thing, Florian Wirtz, set the climax after the break. A big party could begin.
For Leverkusen it is the first title in its hundred and twenty years of existence. Until today, the club was mockingly called ‘Vizekusen’ in Germany. Because of being second in the Bundesliga five times, but never champion.
In 2002, Leverkusen threw everything away at the end of the season. It lost a national title, lost the cup final and had to give up in the final of the Champions League to Real Madrid – the one with Zinedine Zidane’s crazy goal.
Leverkusen still has a treble in sight: it can also win the German Cup and the Europa League. It can surpass its record in one season – for now it only includes a cup and a UEFA Cup.
In addition to his top scorer Boniface, there are two more ex-Bruges players on Bayer’s payroll: Odilon Kossounou is a regular at the back, and youngster Noah Mbamba was allowed to come in a number of times for Winnerkusen, as the club now calls itself.
© REUTERS
Bayer 04 Leverkusen @bayer04football
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90’+1′
End of second half
90′
5-0 GOAL van Florian Wirtz!
83′
4-0 GOAL van Florian Wirtz!
The verdict becomes harder and harder. The fans rush onto the field out of joy, but the match is not over yet. Order is quickly restored.
77′
Granit Xhaka is replaced by Exequiel Palacios
77′
Leonardo Bittencourt is replaced by Isak Hansen-Aaröen
77′
Piero Hincapié is replaced by Álex Grimaldo
69′
Nick Woltemade is replaced by Dawid Kownacki
69′
Felix Agu is replaced by Olivier Deman
68′
3-0 GOAL van Florian Wirtz!
Werder Bremen can no longer recover. Leverkusen plays liberated towards the title, and Wirtz puts the 3-0 score on the board. It’s a countdown towards the whistle.
62′
Nathan Tella is replaced by Jeremie Frimpong
62′
Victor Boniface is replaced by Patrik Schick
60′
2-0 GOAL from Granit Xhaka!
Wonderful goal! Boniface plays Xhaka, who is all alone. In one moment the Swiss delivers a devastating blow. The home team can prepare for a true national celebration.
58′
Boniface stopped
Boniface dives into the box and tries to hold off the Werder Bremen defender with his imposing body, but the striker loses his balance and cannot follow up on the promising opportunity.
54′
Werder Bremen well out of the dressing room
The visitors are actually making it difficult for the home team. The Werder Bremen players leave the dressing room with a knife between their teeth. Do they reward themselves with the equalizer?
47′
Yellow card for Leonardo Bittencourt
47′
Yellow card for Piero Hincapié
46′
Amine Adli is replaced by Florian Wirtz
45′
Second half kicked off
Is the home team still ahead?
45’+4′
End of first half
38′
Adli against the sleeper
A detached Adli is found and lashes out. His shot hits the crossbar. Leverkusen insists on the double lead.
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2024-04-14 17:20:00
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