Werkself review #B04FCA: Undefeated German champions

Summary: An indescribable day

The Werkself began with lots of control and possession at the sold-out BayArena, and took the lead after 10 minutes following a mistake by FCA goalkeeper Tomas Koubek. Amine Adli pinched the ball off him and laid it off to Victor Boniface, who effortlessly tapped in. A quarter of an hour later, Robert Andrich flicked in a second goal. Augsburg improved after the break and Mert Kömür reduced the deficit with an unstoppable long-range strike in the 62nd minute. The Werkself had the better chances to score the next goal after that, but it finished 2-1.

What followed are images that will stay forever. Following full time, the team was presented with the Meisterschale - 120 years after the club's formation and 45 years after promotion to the Bundesliga, the time had finally come. Captain Lukas Hradecky got the emotions flowing, lifting the trophy into the air before the squad embarked on a special lap of honour around the stadium, while an aircraft with a banner saying "German champions" flew overhead. Hradecky then climbed up into the head singer platform in the Nordkurve and handed the Meisterschale over to the fans. Shortly after, Xabi Alonso even joined in. Head coach and captain hoisted the trophy again together. Unbelievable images, and the perfect end to a stunning Bundesliga season. Check out the best pictures from this historic day again HERE, and there's also a comprehensive match report HERE.

Reaction: 'Will never forget this day'

Fernando Carro, Bayer 04 CEO, said at the final whistle: "A lot of fans have waited a very, very long time for this experience. I was at a fan club yesterday where people have been travelling around everywhere for 40 years. It's certainly a special thing. The fans have kept supporting us through difficult times, not just now we're successful. That's a very important factor in this successful path we've embarked on."

Managing director for sport Simon Rolfes stressed: "We're giving the occasion a worthy setting tonight, which will be nice for all employees. But the evening will be a little shorter for the team. We still have a lot planned for the coming week." The entire team and all Bayer 04 employees rounded off the indescribable day with an internal celebration. Rolfes also had this to say about Florian Wirtz: "Flo is a gift for our club. Not only his street footballing skills, but also his winning mentality and the great commitment he brings to the team are great gifts. That's why the people here love him so much."

Coach Alonso said after the game: "One of the many keys to our success is the close relationship we have built up with the fans. They have always supported us and we are very grateful that they are always there for us. We will never forget this day when we held up the trophy."

Jonathan Tah, who's been with Bayer 04 since 2015: "After so many years and so many games under the Cross, it feels incredible to be able to lift this Meisterschale. Xabi has made the whole team better, he's an excellent coach and person." Jonas Hofmann added: "Holding the Meisterschale aloft is a feeling I can't describe. It makes you want more. I certainly came to Leverkusen to win a trophy, and with the other new signings, with Xabi, it's all fitted brilliantly. We're very happy."

Press review: 'They are the invincibles'

Bild wrote afterwards: "WHAT. MADNESS! They are the invincibles". Even before the match, the newspaper had spoken of "the magic of 18 May". It really is a significant date in the history of Bayer 04: on 18 May 1988, Leverkusen claimed their first major honour, the UEFA Cup. And on the same day in 1996, Bayer rescued themselves from relegation to the second division.

Meanwhile, kicker went with the headline of: "A triumph of strength: Bayer in an elite club of invincibles". It continued: "The perennial runners-up from the wrong side of the Rhine, mocked as 'Vizekusen' for decades, have set new benchmarks." The WAZ wrote: "The fact that such a thing is still possible. Bayer Leverkusen defeated the champions' empire after 11 titles in a row, making the season that ends this weekend a historic one." The WAZ also described the Werkself as a "Wunderelf" ('miracle team'), while the Rheinische Post said of the match: "The team played with too much confidence for Augsburg to spoil the party." 

Personnel: Trio with landmark appearances

No fewer than three players in black and red reached a special mark on Saturday. Hradecky made his 250th competitive appearance for Leverkusen, Jeremie Frimpong his 100th in the Bundesliga and Wirtz, who came on in the second half, featured in a competitive game for Bayer 04 for the 150th time.​

Statistics: History written

In 61 years of the Bundesliga, there have been 1,096 teams and only one of them have ended a campaign without defeat: Bayer 04. The Werkself's incredible record stands at 28 wins and six draws, while they're also only the second side in Bundesliga history to not give away a single point from a winning position, Bayern Munich the only team to previously achieve that in 2011/12. What's more, Bayer 04 are just the second club to reach the 90-point mark in a Bundesliga season.

And these are the stats from the match against Augsburg: there were 30 shots on goal, 20 of them for the Werkself, who also registered 65.1% of possession. The Black and Reds played 735 passes, with a completion rate of 92%, compared to 389 and 82% from the visitors.

Looking ahead: Finals week in Dublin and Berlin

It's not over yet for the Werkself, who play two finals this week. First they meet Atalanta in the final of the UEFA Europa League on Wednesday 22 May (kick-off 21:00 CEST) at the Dublin Arena. Three days later, on Saturday 25 May (kick-off 20:00 CEST), it's the DFB Pokal final against 1. FC Kaiserslautern at Berlin's Olympiastadion.