Xabi Alonso believes Bayer Leverkusen’s historic season will live long in the memory after they became the first team in the history of the Bundesliga to complete a full season without losing a match with a 2-1 win against FC Augsburg. The German side still have a DFB-Pokal final against FC Kaiserslautern and a UEFA Europa League final against Atalanta to come as they chase a historic treble.
Xabi Alonso believes Bayer Leverkusen’s historic season will stand the test of time after they became the first team in the history of the Bundesliga to complete a full season without losing a match.
The treble-chasing German giants completed their remarkable league run with a record of 28 wins and six draws after beating Augsburg 2-1.
Their campaign is far from over, with a DFB-Pokal final against Kaiserslautern and a UEFA Europa League final against Atalanta still to come.
‘I would back them’ – Cole believes Leverkusen would win Champions League final‘I would back them’ – Cole believes Leverkusen would win Champions League final
Harry Kane finished the Bundesliga season as the top scorer with 36 goals, but it was further disappointment for Bayern Munich as they dropped to a third-placed finish behind VfB Stuttgart.
“Our team has written itself into Bundesliga history,” Alonso said. “In 20 years we will look back and all be able to say: ‘Wow, we were there’.
“We will never forget this day. It is totally deserved.
“In the end, we are undefeated. That was a clear goal for us. After the game against Bremen, we knew that we could achieve great things.
“I’m really proud of the team.
“The fans can celebrate today. We’ll enjoy it and then recover tomorrow.
“It’s an important day for the club, and it’s totally deserved to become champions undefeated.
“Unbelievable. We’ll need some time to let that sink in.
“When I was with the fans in the stands and was very close to them, I saw in their faces that they are, and will always be, there for us.
“They were always there last season, too. They all show huge passion, we can feel that.”
Leverkusen are now the first team other than Bayern to win the Bundesliga since Borussia Dortmund lifted the title in 2012.
Alonso was a huge part of Bayern’s decade of dominance in Germany, but the Spaniard admitted that winning the title as a manager was a different experience.
“The difference between being a coach and being a player? Now, I look after everyone and not just myself. It’s a very different feeling,” he added.
“I’m just very proud of everyone right now. Back in August, in the first game against Leipzig, we prepared really well for every game and worked very well.
“We didn’t have a bad game, maybe a weaker half. But that’s all.
“This achievement is outstanding, not only in Germany but also in Europe.
“From tomorrow we have our next big goals in sight. The next week is unique with these opportunities.”
BAYERN FINISH THIRD
Bayern Munich were beaten 4-2 by Hoffenheim to sink to their lowest finish in the league since the 2010-11 campaign.
The 32-time Bundesliga champions were 2-0 up after just six minutes thanks to finishes from Mathys Tel and Alphonso Davies.
Tel found the back of the net with a header from close range after being picked out by Thomas Muller in the fourth minute.
It was 2-0 when Davies linked up with Tel inside the box before firing a left-footed shot into the bottom right corner of Oliver Baumann’s goal.
However, Maximilian Beier capped an insane opening 10 minutes with a goal for the hosts.
The forward exchanged passes with Andrej Kramaric before finding the top left corner.
Things got even stranger after half-time as Hoffenheim turned the game on its head.
Kramaric equalised for the hosts with just over 20 minutes of regulation time remaining, but things got even worse for departing manager Thomas Tuchel.
Kramaric was picked out by Tom Bischof with five minutes left to play, and the Croatian made no mistake, finding the bottom corner with a thunderous shot.
He completed his hat-trick two minutes later to wrap up a famous win for Hoffenheim and condemn Bayern to their worst league campaign in over a decade.