Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen make history with Bundesliga unbeaten streak

By SABC Sport
24th February 2024

Xabi Alonso lauded his Bayer Leverkusen squad for their tenacity in clinching a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Mainz on Friday evening.

The win not only extended their lead at the top of the Bundesliga but also marked a new milestone in German football history.

With this triumph, Leverkusen surged 11 points ahead of Bayern Munich, though the Bavarians have a game in hand. The victory also etched a new record in the annals of German football, with Leverkusen now boasting an unparalleled unbeaten streak of 33 matches across all competitions.

Former Arsenal stalwart Granit Xhaka fired Leverkusen into an early lead just three minutes into the game, only for Dominik Kohr to swiftly equalize for Mainz. However, Leverkusen's resilience shone through as Robert Andrich netted the decisive goal in the 68th minute, securing the three points despite Mainz being reduced to 10 men late in the game following Jessic Ngankam's sending off.

Reflecting on the match, Alonso acknowledged the team's imperfect performance, stating, "It wasn™t our best game, but the three points are very important. We can enjoy the weekend and then we™ll move on. You cannot always play brilliantly."

Xhaka echoed Alonso's sentiments, emphasizing Leverkusen's deserving lead in the league standings: "We deserve to be where we are. When you are eight points, now 11 points, ahead of second-place Bayern, there is a lot to lose."

Addressing speculation about his future amidst links to managerial positions at Liverpool and Bayern Munich, Alonso remained focused on Leverkusen's current campaign: "It™s all just speculation, my head is totally here. We have so much to do, we™re in such a super position."

The victory over Mainz not only cements Leverkusen's dominance this season but also raises hopes for a historic Bundesliga title, a feat the club have never achieved despite being runners-up on five occasions in the past three decades.

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich, winners of the last 11 Bundesliga titles, find themselves chasing Alonso's formidable outfit in what promises to be an enthralling race to the finish.