After 51 games in all competitions, Bayer Leverkusen have finally tasted defeat this season. Xabi Alonso’s side have cruelly faced defeat for the first time this season in the Europa League final, losing 3-0 to Atalanta.
Leverkusen last tasted defeat in a competitive fixture on the last day of last season (May 2023). This was during a dead rubber against VfL Bochum, which the home side won 3-0.
Since then, Alonso’s side have played 51 competitive matches across three competitions, winning 42 and drawing just 9.
It’s hard to put into words the job that Alonso has done at Leverkusen. When the Spaniard became head coach in October 2022, B04 were in the relegation play-off position, having gathered just eight points from 10 matches with a goal difference of -7.
Alonso went on to guide the club into a Europa League spot the same season.
This season, the Spaniard has made a number of smart signings including Victor Boniface, Granit Xhaka, Nathan Tella, Jeremie Frimpong and Jonas Hofmann. The team is playing the most attractive football in the league and has put an end to Bayern Munich’s decade-domestic reign.
The defeat means that the dream of going unbeaten all season is no longer alive. However, having already wrapped up the Bundesliga title without losing, you can forgive B04 for losing after completing their main objective.
B04 are still on for a double-trophy winning season with the DFB Pokal final coming up this Saturday in Berlin against 2. Bundesliga side FC Kaiserslautern.
GGFN | Jamie Allen
