Leverkusen win Bundesliga with five games to spare

2 years ago 86

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Florian Wirtz of Bayer 04 Leverkusen celebrates

Bayer Leverkusen won their first Bundesliga title and got there with five games to spare thanks to a 5-0 victory over Werder Bremen.

Bayern Munich beat Cologne on Saturday to keep Leverkusen's title celebrations on hold for at least a day.

But there were scenes of jubilation for Xabi Alonso's team when the final whistle blew at BayArena on Sunday.

Victor Boniface's 25th-minute penalty set Leverkusen on their way before Granit Xhaka and Florian Wirtz scored stunning goals in quick succession.

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.

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.

More to follow.

Reaction as Bayer Leverkusen win first Bundesliga title

Line-ups

B Leverkusen

Formation 3-4-2-1

1Hrádecky
6Kossounou
4Tah
12Tapsoba
19TellaSubstituted forFrimpongat 62'minutes
8Andrich
34XhakaSubstituted forPalaciosat 77'minutes
3HincapiéBooked at 47minsSubstituted forGrimaldoat 77'minutes
7Hofmann
21AdliBooked at 31minsSubstituted forWirtzat 45'minutes
22BonifaceSubstituted forSchickat 62'minutes

Substitutes

2Stanisic
10Wirtz
13de Matos Soares
14Schick
17Kovár
20Grimaldo
25Palacios
30Frimpong
32Puerta

Werder Bremen

Formation 3-5-2

30Zetterer
22Malatini
36Groß
13Veljkovic
8Weiser
10BittencourtBooked at 47minsSubstituted forHansen-Aaröenat 77'minutes
14Lynen
20Schmid
27AguSubstituted forDemanat 69'minutes
29WoltemadeSubstituted forKownackiat 69'minutes
7Ducksch

Substitutes

2Deman
9Kownacki
21Hansen-Aaröen
26Imasuen
35Opitz
38dos Santos Haesler
40Röcker

Referee:Harm Osmers

Attendance:30,210

Live Text

Match ends, Bayer 04 Leverkusen 5, SV Werder Bremen 0.
Second Half ends, Bayer 04 Leverkusen 5, SV Werder Bremen 0.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match (Bayer 04 Leverkusen).
Goal! Bayer 04 Leverkusen 5, SV Werder Bremen 0. Florian Wirtz (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Álex Grimaldo following a fast break.
Foul by Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer 04 Leverkusen).
Romano Schmid (SV Werder Bremen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match (Bayer 04 Leverkusen).
Goal! Bayer 04 Leverkusen 4, SV Werder Bremen 0. Florian Wirtz (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Exequiel Palacios with a through ball following a fast break.
Foul by Odilon Kossounou (Bayer 04 Leverkusen).
Marvin Ducksch (SV Werder Bremen) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt missed. Exequiel Palacios (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Florian Wirtz.
Substitution, Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Exequiel Palacios replaces Granit Xhaka.
Substitution, SV Werder Bremen. Isak Hansen-Aaröen replaces Leonardo Bittencourt because of an injury.
Substitution, Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Álex Grimaldo replaces Piero Hincapié.
Attempt missed. Romano Schmid (SV Werder Bremen) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Attempt saved. Olivier Deman (SV Werder Bremen) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Leonardo Bittencourt with a cross.
Attempt saved. Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top right corner.
Attempt saved. Patrik Schick (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jeremie Frimpong with a cross.