In a thrilling encounter on Sunday, Bayer Leverkusen took another significant step towards clinching their first-ever Bundesliga title with a convincing 2-0 victory over 10-man Wolfsburg. Nathan Tella and Florian Wirtz were the heroes for Leverkusen, securing a crucial win that places them in a commanding position atop the Bundesliga table.
The match was poised with anticipation, especially after Bayern Munich’s 8-1 triumph over Mainz the day before, where Harry Kane’s remarkable fourth hat-trick of the season cut the gap to seven points. Leverkusen, however, now stand ten points clear with only nine games left in the season, maintaining an unbeaten record in all competitions.
Granit Xhaka, reflecting on the match, remarked, “It wasn’t easy, but it was highly deserved. I’m sure the fans would have wished for more goals, but three points are three points.”
Leverkusen gained a significant advantage when Wolfsburg’s Moritz Jenz received a second yellow card after just 28 minutes, leaving his team with ten men. This marked the third consecutive league match where Leverkusen’s opponents finished with reduced manpower, underscoring the impact of coach Xabi Alonso’s high-pressure tactics.
Alonso emphasized the team’s patience and strategy, stating, “We could have maybe taken more risks, but we didn’t want that. We wanted to be patient and we wanted to wait.”
Despite returning just two days earlier from Azerbaijan, where they salvaged a 2-2 draw against Qarabag in the Europa League last 16, Leverkusen displayed resilience and adaptability. The squad saw eight changes to keep the players fresh, with standout wing-back Jeremie Frimpong sidelined due to suspension.
The breakthrough came 11 minutes after Jenz’s dismissal when Tella capitalized on a sublime chip from Alex Grimaldo, registering his 11th assist of the campaign. Wirtz, who ignited Leverkusen’s comeback in the Europa League with a stunning chip, sealed the victory with a late goal, leaving Wolfsburg with no chance of a comeback.
In other Bundesliga action, Freiburg secured a vital 2-1 victory against Bochum, with goals from Michael Gregoritsch and Maximilian Eggestein. Eintracht Frankfurt further solidified their position in sixth place with a 3-1 win over nine-man Hoffenheim, courtesy of goals from Robin Koch, Eric Dina Ebimbe, and Mario Goetze.
As the Bundesliga season approaches its climax, Bayer Leverkusen’s quest for a historic title continues to gather momentum. With each victory, they inch closer to etching their name in the annals of German football history.