Xabi Alonso’s incredible unbeaten run with Bayer Leverkusen brought to an end
Xabi Alonso’s incredible unbeaten run with Bayer Leverkusen came to an end on Saturday night.
The German champions faced RB Leipzig in a crunch clash but fell to a 3-2 defeat to end their staggering run.
Despite going 2-0 before half-time thanks to goals from Jeremie Frimpong and Alejandro Grimaldo, Alonso’s side capitulated in the second half and conceded three goals without reply to fall to defeat.
It bring an end to a staggering 462-day unbeaten run in the Bundesliga.
The last time Bayer Leverkusen tasted defeat in the league was in May 2023 when they lost 3-0 to Bochum on the final day of the 2022/23 season.
Since then, Alonso’s side have gone 35 games unbeaten in the Bundesliga and 43 games unbeaten domestically with the German cup competitions included.
This includes a perfect record in German football that has seen Bayer Leverkusen win the Bundesliga, the DFB-Pokal and the German Super Cup in a matter of months.
That run so nearly extended into Europe with Bayer Leverkusen going unbeaten all season in the 2023/24 Europa League, only to fall to defeat against Atalanta in the final.
While it was a good day for RB Leipzig, it was one that ended in embarrassment for head coach Marco Rose who was sent to the stands after being booked twice for dissent.
Taking a seat in the stands, Rose was then asked to move when a Bayer Leverkusen fan appeared to tell him that he was, in fact, sitting in the supporter’s seat.
He then moved from the front row of the stand to the back row where he took his place in the Bay Arena’s press box for the remainder of the game.
As well as losing their stunning unbeaten run, defeat for Bayer Leverkusen means that Alonso’s side have picked up three points from a possible six as they look to retain their Bundesliga crown.
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Alonso’s side now have a two-week break due to international fixtures before facing Hoffenheim on Saturday, September 14.
They then start their Champions League League Phase campaign with a trip to Feyenoord on Saturday September 19.
Bayer Leverkusen also face a trip to take on Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga before the end of September, while also taking on AC Milan, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid in their run of Champions League games.
Most notably, Alonso’s side will travel to Anfield on November 5 with the Spaniard set for an emotional reunion with the club where he made so many memories as a player.