Football

Bayer Leverkusen etched their name in Bundesliga history on Saturday, becoming the first team to complete a full season without a loss. The treble-chasing side edged past Augsburg 2-1 on the final matchday, extending their unbeaten run across all competitions to an astonishing 51 matches.Xabi Alonso's team, who also face Kaiserslautern in the German Cup final on May 25, finished the season with an impressive 90 points, 17 ahead of second-placed VfB Stuttgart. Their remarkable achievement is a testament to their consistency and resilience throughout the campaign.Leverkusen's victory was set up by Victor Boniface, who intercepted a pass from Augsburg goalkeeper Tomas Koubek and tapped in the opening goal in the 12th minute. Robert Andrich doubled the advantage in the 27th minute, giving the home fans hope of a grand celebration.However, Augsburg fought back after the break, with Mert Komur reducing the deficit just past the hour mark. Both teams had chances to score, but it was Leverkusen's day. The fans erupted in joy as the final whistle blew, knowing that their team had made history.At the other end of the table, Cologne were relegated after a 4-1 defeat at Heidenheim, joining Darmstadt 98. VfL Bochum will face a relegation playoff.Leverkusen's unbeaten season is a remarkable feat, showcasing their dominance in the Bundesliga. They will now turn their attention to the Europa League final against Atalanta, where they will aim to complete a historic treble.

Bayer Leverkusen's remarkable unbeaten streak extended to 50 games with a dominant 5-0 victory over 10-man Bochum on Sunday. The triumph marked a significant milestone for Xabi Alonso's side, who are now on the cusp of an unprecedented treble.Bochum, who had previously defeated Leverkusen in May 2023, were unable to replicate their success as Leverkusen's attacking prowess proved too much to handle. Five different players found the net for the league champions, showcasing their depth and versatility.Robert Andrich, Leverkusen's midfield maestro, expressed his aspirations for a historic treble. "We couldn't have imagined how much the Bundesliga title meant to the club and the fans," he said. "Next week, we'll hold the trophy high in our own stadium, which will be emotional and beautiful. After that, we're off to Dublin and Berlin, and we want to grab both titles and go on holiday with the triple in our backpacks."Within three days in late May, Leverkusen will face Atalanta in the Europa League final in Dublin before taking on second-division Kaiserslautern in the German Cup final.Bochum's hopes were dealt a blow early on when Felix Passlack was sent off for a last-man foul on Nathan Tella. With Florian Wirtz absent due to injury, Alonso opted for a two-striker formation with Victor Boniface and Patrik Schick leading the line. Both forwards found the net before halftime, with Schick scoring a superb first-touch finish and Boniface converting a penalty.Amine Adli, who replaced Schick in the second half, headed in a corner to make it 3-0. Josip Stanisic, who had scored a crucial goal against Roma in the Europa League, added a fourth with three minutes remaining before setting up Alex Grimaldo's goal in the final moments.Meanwhile, Bayern Munich, under the guidance of Thomas Tuchel, bounced back from their Champions League disappointment with a 2-0 victory over Wolfsburg. Despite making eight changes to the team that lost to Real Madrid, Bayern controlled the game from start to finish.Lovro Zvonarek, making his first start, opened the scoring after just four minutes, while Leon Goretzka doubled the lead ten minutes later. Bayern's dominance continued throughout the match, with Bryan Zaragoza having a goal ruled out for offside.The win moved Bayern into second place in the Bundesliga, two points ahead of Stuttgart. Captain Manuel Neuer praised his team's resilience after the setback against Real Madrid. "We were in control for over 90 minutes and got into the game well, that was crucial," he said.In other Bundesliga action, Hoffenheim boosted their chances of European qualification with a 6-0 thrashing of already-relegated Darmstadt. Ihlas Bebou and Maximilian Beier scored doubles, while Pavel Kaderabek and Ozan Kabak also found the net.

Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen, on the cusp of a historic achievement, will face Roma in the second leg of the Europa League semi-final on Thursday. With a 2-0 advantage from the first leg, Leverkusen is poised to extend their unbeaten streak to 49 games, surpassing Benfica's 59-year-old European football record.Leverkusen's remarkable run has already eclipsed Juventus' 43-match unbeaten streak from 2011 to 2012. A victory or even a one-goal loss against Roma would secure their place in the Europa League final in Dublin.The pursuit of an unbeaten season has become a driving force for Leverkusen. Goalkeeper and captain Lukas Hradecky believes it provides "extra motivation" and is a testament to the team's resilience.Despite Alonso's suspension, Leverkusen cruised to a 5-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday, showcasing their depth and determination. They are also through to the German Cup final and have already secured the Bundesliga title.Former Leverkusen coach Rudi Voeller praised Alonso's "brave and adventurous" decision to hire him and highlighted the team's exceptional squad depth. He believes that Leverkusen's ability to strengthen not only their starting lineup but also their reserves is the key to their unbeaten run.Leverkusen is expected to welcome back Florian Wirtz and Alex Grimaldo for the second leg against Roma. Wirtz, a key attacking midfielder, has been instrumental in Leverkusen's Europa League campaign with four goals and four assists.With a near-full-strength squad and the home advantage, Leverkusen is well-positioned to break Benfica's record and continue their pursuit of an unprecedented treble.

Newly-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen have extended their remarkable unbeaten streak to 44 matches across all competitions after securing a place in the Europa League semi-finals. The German giants drew 1-1 with West Ham United in the second leg of their quarter-final tie, advancing 3-1 on aggregate.Michail Antonio gave the Hammers an early lead in the 13th minute, but Leverkusen fought back in the second half. Jeremie Frimpong's 89th-minute equalizer proved crucial, sending Xabi Alonso's side through to the last four.Leverkusen will now face AS Roma for a spot in the final. The Italian giants defeated Bodø/Glimt 4-0 on aggregate in their quarter-final tie."I think we felt it in the first half," said Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka after the match. "It was a typical English crowd. They were pushing West Ham unbelievably. We were lucky in the first half if we're honest.""It was a different phase in the second half, we controlled the game. We are happy we got through. We competed much more. If you see over 180 minutes, the better team go through."Leverkusen's triumph over West Ham marks a historic achievement for the club. Last weekend, they clinched their first Bundesliga title in over a decade, ending Bayern Munich's 11-year reign.The German side is now in contention for a treble trophy haul this season. They will face second-division Kaiserslautern in the German Cup final on May 25.

Newly crowned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen face a formidable challenge in their pursuit of a perfect league season when they visit Borussia Dortmund on Sunday. Despite their historic title triumph, Xabi Alonso's side has their sights set on several remarkable records.Leverkusen remains in contention for a treble, having reached the German Cup final and the Europa League semi-finals. They are the only German club other than Bayern Munich to have won the treble, which Bayern achieved in 2013 and 2020.In the Bundesliga, Leverkusen is still unbeaten with 25 wins and four draws in 29 games. They have also extended their undefeated streak to 44 matches across all competitions this season. No German club, including Bayern Munich, has ever gone through a league season without a loss, making Alonso's team five matches away from a unique achievement.With 79 points, Leverkusen is also within striking distance of breaking the all-time Bundesliga points tally of 91, set by Bayern in 2012-13. However, their trip to Dortmund represents their biggest hurdle in achieving these records.Dortmund, currently fifth in the standings, is a formidable opponent at home, especially after their impressive victory over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals. Leverkusen was held to a 1-1 draw by Dortmund in December.Despite the celebrations following their title win, Alonso is confident that his team will not lose focus. "We had a few beers, but not too many," he said. "The players have not given me any reason to doubt them. We have the hunger and the desire to keep going non-stop."Dortmund, on the other hand, has its own motivations. With a two-legged semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain on the horizon, their European exploits could also benefit them in the league. Germany's chances of securing five spots in next season's Champions League have been boosted by Dortmund's win and Bayern's victory over Arsenal.While Dortmund may shift its focus to Europe, the opportunity to face a title winner other than Bayern will undoubtedly inspire them to deliver a strong performance.As for Bayern, pride is at stake in the league, as they are level on points with Stuttgart. They travel to Union Berlin on Saturday, who are still in danger of relegation and will be desperate for points.Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy was named Bundesliga player of the month for the second time this season. With 25 goals in 23 games, he is second only to Harry Kane in the scoring charts.

Bayer Leverkusen has extended its dominance at the summit of the Bundesliga, securing a 2-0 victory over 10-man Cologne. This triumph has widened the gap between Leverkusen and Bayern Munich to a significant 10 points.Leverkusen's manager, Xabi Alonso, acknowledged the importance of this victory, stating, "Ten points are a lot, but it's not over yet." He emphasized the need for continued focus and determination, recognizing that the title race is far from decided.Leverkusen's unbeaten streak in all competitions now stands at an impressive 34 games, a German record. Their victory over Cologne was hard-fought, with the home team playing with 10 men from the 15th minute after Jan Thielmann was sent off for a reckless challenge on Granit Xhaka.Despite the numerical disadvantage, Cologne put up a spirited fight, hitting the post twice. However, Leverkusen's quality ultimately prevailed. Jeremie Frimpong opened the scoring in the 38th minute, tapping in a cross from Alejandro Grimaldo. Grimaldo himself sealed the victory in the 73rd minute, squeezing the ball in at the near post after a fine assist from Amine Adli.Alonso praised his team's patience and control, saying, "We controlled the counter-attacks and were unlucky not to get the goals. In the end, we had patience and got the goals."Cologne, currently in the relegation play-off spot, remains eight points adrift of safety. Despite their valiant effort, they were unable to overcome the deficit created by Thielmann's red card.In another Bundesliga match on Sunday, Hoffenheim secured a 2-1 win over Werder Bremen thanks to a first-half double from Maximilian Beier.

Xabi Alonso, the current coach of Bayer Leverkusen, has dismissed the speculation surrounding his future as a distraction for the Bundesliga leaders, following Bayern Munich's announcement that coach Thomas Tuchel will be leaving at the end of the season. Alonso's impressive performance with Leverkusen, leading them to an eight-point lead over Bayern in the Bundesliga, has made him one of the most sought-after coaches in European soccer, with potential vacancies at Bayern and Liverpool, both clubs where he played during his illustrious career.When asked about the speculation and Bayern's history of acquiring players and coaches from rival teams, Alonso remained unfazed, stating, "It's not a problem. It's a super opponent that we have, but there is no distraction." This response reflects Alonso's focus on the task at hand, as he aims to maintain Leverkusen's title challenge and continue their impressive unbeaten run of 32 games in all competitions.The news of Tuchel's departure from Bayern has further fueled the speculation surrounding Alonso's future, as both Liverpool and Bayern are in search of new coaches. Alonso's success with Leverkusen, coupled with his history with both clubs, makes him a strong candidate for either position. However, Alonso has remained tight-lipped about his plans, emphasizing his commitment to Leverkusen and his desire to achieve success with the club.Leverkusen's title challenge continues on Friday with a home match against Mainz, while Bayern faces Leipzig on Saturday. Alonso's team remains unbeaten in 32 games across all competitions and is a contender in the German Cup semi-finals and the Europa League. Alonso's ability to maintain this impressive form and guide Leverkusen to silverware will undoubtedly influence his future prospects and the decisions of potential suitors.