Bayer Leverkusen rewrote their club history books on Sunday, securing a remarkable first-ever Bundesliga title with a dominant 5-0 victory over Werder Bremen. The emphatic win at the BayArena not only sealed the championship but also extended their unbeaten run to a staggering 43 games, setting a new Bundesliga record of 29 consecutive league victories.
This triumph marks a dramatic turnaround for a club that was languishing in a relegation battle when Xabi Alonso took the reins in October 2022. The decorated Spanish manager has overseen a meteoric rise, transforming Die Werkself into a juggernaut that has swept aside all challengers.
Leverkusen’s dominance is further underlined by their unassailable 16-point lead at the summit, effectively ending Bayern Munich’s hopes of a record-extending 12th consecutive Bundesliga title. While Bayern secured their own victory over Köln on Saturday to briefly postpone the inevitable, Alonso’s men emphatically stole the show with a five-star performance against Bremen.
Victor Boniface opened the scoring from the penalty spot, before Granit Xhaka unleashed a spectacular strike in the second half. The icing on the cake came in the form of a Florian Wirtz hat-trick, sending the jubilant Leverkusen faithful into raptures.
This title represents a monumental achievement for a club that has previously finished runners-up on five occasions. However, the celebrations are likely far from over. Leverkusen have already booked their place in the German Cup final and hold a commanding 2-0 lead from the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final against West Ham. The dream of a historic treble remains very much alive.
The seeds of this success were sown on the opening day of the season with a statement victory over Leipzig. Since then, Leverkusen have displayed remarkable consistency, putting together two phenomenal winning runs of eight and 10 games respectively. A pivotal moment arrived in February when they dismantled Bayern 3-0 at the BayArena, asserting their dominance and opening up a significant gap at the top of the table.
Alonso, whose contract runs until 2026, has silenced speculation about a potential summer move to a European giant like his former clubs Bayern Munich or Liverpool. The 42-year-old, also admired by Real Madrid and Chelsea, will instead lead Leverkusen into the Champions League next season, marking his first venture into the prestigious competition as a manager.
One of the most remarkable aspects of Leverkusen’s season has been the blossoming of previously overlooked players. Boniface has spearheaded the attack with his clinical finishing, while Wirtz and Xhaka have formed a potent midfield partnership. Álex Grimaldo, a free transfer signing from Benfica, has solidified the left-back position, while Jeremie Frimpong has provided attacking impetus from the right. This unlikely band of heroes, many of whom were previously deemed surplus to requirements by other clubs, have found a new lease on life under Alonso’s tutelage.
While Wirtz, Boniface, and Jonathan Tah might attract interest from bigger clubs in the summer, Leverkusen’s incredible season and Alonso’s continued presence at the helm mean there’s no immediate need to dismantle this magnificent squad. Repeating this extraordinary campaign might be a tall order, but considering the magic Alonso has already conjured, nothing seems truly impossible for Bayer Leverkusen.
