Champions Bayer Leverkusen beat Augsburg 2-1 on the final matchday Saturday to develop into the primary group within the historical past of the Bundesliga to finish a full season with out a loss.
Xabi Alonso’s treble-chasing group additionally stretched their European report unbeaten run throughout all competitions this season to 51 matches in an ideal costume rehearsal for subsequent week’s Europa League remaining towards Atalanta.
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Leverkusen, who additionally face Kaiserslautern within the DFB-Pokal remaining Might 25, completed prime on 90 factors with 28 wins and 6 attracts, 17 factors forward of second-placed VfB Stuttgart.
On the different finish of the desk Cologne have been relegated, becoming a member of Darmstadt, following a 4-1 defeat at Heidenheim. VfL Bochum will go right into a relegation playoff.
Marius Becker/image alliance by way of Getty Photographs
“It is an distinctive season that we have made, not simply in Germany however I feel in Europe,” Alonso stated. “We bear in mind the [2003-04 Arsenal] Invincibles within the Premier League and Juventus [in Serie A in 2011-12], so we deserve this a part of historical past in European soccer.”
Leverkusen bought off to a robust begin and Victor Boniface intercepted a ball from Augsburg keeper Tomas Koubek to faucet in for the lead within the twelfth minute as the house followers ready to kick off town’s huge celebration to have a good time the membership’s maiden league title.
Robert Andrich, a part of Germany’s Euro 2024 preliminary squad, doubled the benefit from shut vary within the twenty seventh however Augsburg got here out preventing after the break and reduce the deficit with Mert Kömür simply previous the hour.
Each groups had their share of possibilities however it was all the time going to be Leverkusen’s day, with followers hoping their first ever Bundesliga trophy would be the first of three titles in what’s already a exceptional season.
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A choral “Hallelujah” performed over BayArena’s PA system on the remaining whistle and a airplane trailed a “German Champion” banner over the stadium as followers sang the gamers’ praises. The sellout crowd of 30,000 was on its ft as Leverkusen’s gamers acquired the membership’s first ever league winners medals.
Alonso, who took over in October 2022 with Leverkusen within the relegation zone, punched the air to a roar from the gang as he acquired his medal. He has already pledged to remain subsequent season after curiosity from Bayern Munich.
Goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky climbed into the stands and handed the trophy to followers to elevate. He led a membership chant right into a microphone as Alonso climbed as much as be a part of him.
Alonso was requested if Leverkusen’s achievements within the Bundesliga had sunk in but. “I consider it, however I would like extra time, and for now we do not have a lot time,” he stated. “For tomorrow we’ve got our subsequent huge goal.”
Info from the Related Press contributed to this report