Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen continued their march towards a historic Bundesliga title with a 2-0 triumph over 10-man Wolfsburg on Sunday.
Nathan Tella and Florian Wirtz found the net, securing Leverkusen’s 21st league victory and extending their remarkable unbeaten streak to 36 games across all competitions this season, setting a new German record. Since their last defeat to Bochum on the final day of the previous season, Leverkusen hasn’t tasted defeat.
Wirtz’s decisive strike in the 86th minute maintained Leverkusen’s 10-point lead over 11-time defending champion Bayern Munich with nine matches left.
Granit Xhaka acknowledged the desire for more goals from the fans but emphasized the importance of securing three points, referencing Bayern’s massive 8-1 win over Mainz. He noted, “Yeah, you could argue about goal difference, but I hope it won’t be decided by goal difference in the end.”
Leverkusen faced adversity when Wolfsburg’s Moritz Jenz received his marching orders in the 28th minute after a second yellow card for a late challenge on Patrik Schick. Álex Grimaldo’s precise cross from the left allowed Tella to head in the opener in the 37th minute, marking Grimaldo’s 13th assist of the season across all competitions.
Despite dominating possession in the second half, Leverkusen struggled to break down Wolfsburg’s resolute defense until Wirtz’s volley found the net, sealing the victory in off the left post from Exequiel Palacios’ cross.
Reflecting on the match, Alonso highlighted the team’s tactical approach, stating, “Perhaps it wasn’t so spectacular today but we didn’t want to allow any counterattacks. We wanted and needed to play with patience. We’ve a clear idea and a clear plan. We’ll continue on our path with consistency.”
