Thanks to a 5-0 victory over Werder Bremen, Bayer Leverkusen secured their first Bundesliga title with five games remaining, as Xabi Alonso expressed, “the feeling is incredible”.
Leverkusen’s title celebrations were postponed for at least a day after Bayern Munich’s victory over Cologne on Saturday.
However, when the final whistle blew at BayArena on Sunday, there were scenes of celebration for Alonso’s team.
“We have to enjoy and celebrate today with our families, friends and fans,” said Alonso, who was showered with beer after the victory in a German tradition. “This was my first [full] season as a coach, the feeling is incredible.”
Victor Boniface’s 25th-minute penalty set Leverkusen on their way before Granit Xhaka and Florian Wirtz scored stunning goals in quick succession.
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Supporters stormed on to the pitch in mid-match when star man Wirtz added a fourth in the 82nd minute, and again when he completed a hat-trick soon afterwards.
Xhaka and Wirtz added the achievement had not sunk in yet.
“Obviously, at the start of the season we couldn’t have imagined this,” said Xhaka, who joined Leverkusen from Arsenal last July.
Wirtz added: “I personally can still not realise this has happened. I will need a few moments in the changing room to understand what we have achieved.”
Leverkusen’s landmark achievement ends an era of dominance for Bayern, who had won the past 11 Bundesliga titles.
Unbeaten in all competitions this season, Leverkusen remain on course for a remarkable treble in Alonso’s first full season in charge, with the German Cup and Europa League still in their sights.
