Iran Press/ Europe: Leverkusen’s victory moves them onto 79 points, meaning second-placed Bayern Munich and third-placed Stuttgart — both on 63 points after wins of their own on Saturday — cannot catch them even with five matches remaining in the season.
Xabi Alonso’s side took the lead midway through the first half when striker Victor Boniface converted a penalty before former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka doubled their advantage on the hour mark. Florian Wirtz then scored a hat-trick to seal a famous victory at the BayArena.
Leverkusen’s Bundesliga title win is the first in the club’s history and ends Bayern’s era of dominance in Germany, with the Munich side having been crowned champions in the last 11 seasons. Jurgen Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund in 2011-12 were the last team other than Bayern to lift the Bundesliga trophy, their second in a row.
Leverkusen have also not lost in all competitions this season and if they remain undefeated in the Bundesliga, they will be the first side in history to go a whole campaign without tasting defeat. They already hold the German record for most matches in a row unbeaten, which stands at 43 after Sunday’s win over Werder. The previous record was 33, set twice by Hansi Flick’s Bayern sides in 2020 and 2021.
Leverkusen’s title has come thanks to contributions spread around the team, with Boniface and Wirtz their joint-top league scorers with 11 goals each. Left wing-back Alejandro Grimaldo has contributed nine goals, with right wing-back Jeremie Frimpong and attacking midfielder Wirtz contributing eight each. Grimaldo also has a league-high 11 assists, with Wirtz not far behind on 10.
Alonso took charge at Leverkusen in October 2022 with the team in the relegation zone. The 42-year-old quickly turned things around, with Leverkusen finishing sixth in the Bundesliga and securing Europa League qualification for this season.
Leverkusen remains in Europa League contention and is on track to reach the semi-finals, following their 2-0 home win against West Ham United in Thursday’s quarter-final first leg. The second leg of that tie comes in four days.
Alonso’s unprecedented success with Leverkusen has seen him attract the attention of Bayern and Liverpool, two of his former clubs, who are both seeking a new head coach for the 2024-25 campaign after the announcements earlier this year that Thomas Tuchel and Jurgen Klopp respectively will leave their roles at the end of this season. But Alonso moved to clarify his future last month, stating publicly that he intends to remain at Leverkusen next season.
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