Mission accomplished. Bayer 04 Leverkusen are German champions - and with five matchdays to spare! These historic scenes at the BayArena were not only the culmination of many months of sweat and toil in training, but also many unforgettable moments. Dazzing performances, wonder goals, comebacks. And all of this in front of and above all thanks to the fantastic support of the fans. So, in the end, Leverkusen won its well-deserved first Bundesliga title. One that also rewrites a few chapters in the history books of German professional football.
Bayer 04 are the 13th different club to win the domestic crown and the first 'new' one since VfL Wolfsburg in 2009. After 29 matchdays, the Werkself can mathematically no longer be caught by the chasing pack. Only twice in Bundesliga history has the title been decided earlier than in this season.
In the previous 11 years, it's always been the FC Bayern Munich players lifting the Meisterschale at the end of the campaign. But it's not only in recent weeks that Bayer 04 have looked like ending FCB's run. The Werkself have been top of the table on 24 of 29 matchdays this term, and haven't lost a single one of those 29 league games - something no other team have achieved in the history of the German top flight.
The Werkself have collected a remarkable 79 of a possible 87 points - more than ever before in the club's history. This record can of course be extended further in the remaining matches of the season.
Without doubt, head coach Xabi Alonso has been one of the many key figures behind this historic success. The club hierarchy of Werner Wenning, chairman of the shareholders committee, CEO Fernando Carro and managing director for sport Simon Rolfes placed great faith in the Spaniard when they appointed him in October 2022 - and he's repaid them with the league title.
The 42-year-old took charge with the Werkself in 17th place. In his first season as a first-team head coach, Alonso guided the side to sixth place and European qualification. After his first summer with the squad, the incredible run of now 43 games in all competitions without defeat began. There's never been a run like it in German football. What's more, Alonso boasts the highest ever points average for a Leverkusen boss with 2.2.
In his first full year as a head coach at professional level, Alonso already has a first domestic championship. The Spaniard has plenty of experience of winning trophies from his playing days, though - including three Bundesliga titles with Bayern and one with Real Madrid in Spain. Alonso is the ninth person to win the Bundesliga as both a player and coach, joining Hansi Flick, Niko Kovac, Thomas Schaaf, Matthias Sammer, Franz Beckenbauer, Felix Magath, Jupp Heynckes and Helmut Benthaus.
There's been huge potential in this young squad for years. Before this season, Rolfes and Co brought in experienced players like Granit Xhaka, Jonas Hofmann and Alejandro Grimaldo, as well as other talented players such as Victor Boniface, Nathan Tella and Arthur. They all brought a new structure to the Werkself's squad, and together with their fellow teammates created an irrepressible winning mentality.
And the fairytale season could get better still. Lukas Hradecky, Jonathan Tah, Granit Xhaka, Florian Wirtz and Co are motivated to keep going, not just in the Bundesliga but in the DFB Cup and UEFA Europa League, too.
Bayer 04 are already in the final of the DFB Cup, where they'll meet 1. FC Kaiserslautern in the final in Berlin on 25 May. If they succeed, their first league title would become a first domestic double. It would also be just the second cup success after 1993.
In the Europa League, meanwhile, the 2-0 win at home to West Ham United a few days ago has put Alonso's men in a good position for the second leg of the quarter-final in London this Thursday. AC Milan or Roma await in the semi-fianls, with the final taking place three days before the cup final in Dublin.
But the Werkself pros aren't preoccupied with such scenarios yet. Even after this historic achievement of the first German championship, they'll keep doing what they've been doing - step by step. Just as they've been doing since the start of the season. But for now, they and, above all, their fans can continue to enjoy this unforgettable day. The dream has come true.
A group of journalists representing Latin American and Spanish-language media outlets visited the BayArena on Thursday for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Bayer 04 and interviews with key personnel that have driven the team’s brand to new heights internationally over the last few years.
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Eleven days after the floodlight failure, the Bayer 04 Women rescued a point in the rescheduled Bundesliga derby at 1. FC Köln thanks to a late dream goal from Katharina Piljic. The Werkself drew 2-2 at the Franz Kremer Stadion on Thursday evening. Vanessa Fudalla (76') from the penalty spot and Piljic with a shot from the centre circle (88') gave the Black and Reds a late reprieve. Leverkusen, who are now been unbeaten against their Rhineland neighbours for almost four years, remain fourth in the table with the draw following five consecutive wins.
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The date for the Bayer 04 Women's DFB Pokal Round of 16 tie has been set. As announced by the German Football Association (DFB) on Wednesday, the Leverkusen Women will play league rivals Hamburger SV on Sunday, 16 November at 15:00 CET.
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