Bayer Leverkusen: From Neverkusen to Nerverlosen, an Unstoppable Journey

Bayer Leverkusen enters the pantheon. Not just because he is German champion, which is no small feat when Bayern Munich has been lurking around and occupying the throne for more than ten years. Xabi Alonso’s men also finished the season undefeated (28 wins, six draws) after their final victory this Saturday against Augsburg (2-1). This is a first in the history of the Bundesliga. The German champion thus extends to 51 his exceptional series of matches without defeat, in all competitions, and is two matches away from a complete undefeated season, since he faces Atalanta Bergamo on Wednesday in the final of the Europa League, and Kaiserslautern next Saturday in the German Cup final. Absolutely historic.

We must measure the feat that Bayer has just achieved. Since the post-war period, only four teams in the European top 5 have managed to complete 38 or 34 days without ever losing: Perugia (30 matches in 1978-79, 2nd at the end of the season), the immense AC Milan ( 34 in 1991-92), Andrea Pirlo’s Juventus Turin (38 in 2011-12) and Arsène Wenger’s unforgettable Arsenal (38 in 2003-04). Xabi Alonso’s gang takes place in this very select club. This is an exceptional feat because, as we will have understood, it does not happen every four mornings or even every ten years. But also because it is accomplished by a club not really used to appearing in the prize list.

Xabi Alonso has guided Bayer Leverkusen to the UEFA Europa League final, after winning the Bundesliga title

Credit: Getty Images

De Neverkusen à Nerverlosen

“Neverkusen” is first of all a club with legendary bad luck which had never won a German championship title in 120 years of existence and whose feats of arms, until now, compiled its tragic failures. Like a 2022 season which saw him sign an unprecedented treble: defeats in the final of the Champions League, the German Cup and loss of the Bundesliga title after being five points ahead of Dortmund three days from the end. In 2000, when Bayer was three points ahead of Bayern on the final day, an own goal from Michael Ballack cost them the title.

The eternal runner-up, four times German vice-champions, put an end to the curse in the most spectacular way. Here they are, champions, undefeated, off to an incredible hat-trick and a crazy run of invincibility. Nobody expected to see them there, everyone will remember this Bayer Neverlosen.

2024-05-18 15:57:00
#Bundesliga #Invincibles #Bayer #Leverkusen #finishes #championship #undefeated