‘Incredible feeling’ – Alonso toasts Leverkusen title

Xabi Alonso says “the sensation is unbelievable” after Bayer Leverkusen gained their first Bundesliga title with 5 video games to spare because of a 5-0 victory over Werder Bremen.

However there have been scenes of jubilation for Alonso’s crew when the ultimate whistle blew at BayArena on Sunday.

“We now have to take pleasure in and have a good time in the present day with our households, associates and followers,” mentioned Alonso, who was showered with beer after the victory in a German custom. “This was my first [full] season as a coach, the sensation is unbelievable.”

Victor Boniface’s Twenty fifth-minute penalty set Leverkusen on their method earlier than Granit Xhaka and Florian Wirtz scored beautiful objectives in fast succession.

Supporters stormed on to the pitch in mid-match when star man Wirtz added a fourth within the 82nd minute, and once more when he accomplished a hat-trick quickly afterwards.

Xhaka and Wirtz added the achievement had not sunk in but.

“Clearly, at first of the season we could not have imagined this,” mentioned Xhaka, who joined Leverkusen from Arsenal final July.

Wirtz added: “I personally can nonetheless not realise this has occurred. I’ll want just a few moments within the altering room to know what we have now achieved.”

Leverkusen’s landmark achievement ends an period of dominance for Bayern, who had gained the previous 11 Bundesliga titles.

Unbeaten in all competitions this season, Leverkusen stay on target for a exceptional treble in Alonso’s first full season in cost, with the German Cup and Europa League nonetheless of their sights.

Leverkusen get the job performed in model

There was a way of inevitability about Leverkusen’s Bundesliga win for weeks now.

It has been a query of ‘when’ relatively than ‘if’ the membership would get their palms on a primary Meisterschale – the championship defend.

There was an expectant environment across the BayArena earlier than kick-off as followers eagerly welcomed the Leverkusen crew bus with confetti and flares.

Werder keeper Michael Zetterer stopped untimely celebrations when he prevented Piero Hincapie from tapping in Nathan Tella’s cross within the opening moments.

However the house crowd erupted when Boniface slotted house from the spot after a video assistant referee examine confirmed Julian Malatini impeding Jonas Hofmann within the penalty space.

Werder got here near spoiling Leverkusen’s celebration simply earlier than the break, however Marvin Ducksch was unable to direct his glancing header in the direction of aim.

Xhaka’s excellent 25-yard shot on the hour put Alonso’s facet in agency management, earlier than Wirtz one-upped the previous Arsenal midfielder together with his personal long-range effort.

Play resumed shortly after supporters returned to their seats following Wirtz’s second, however a sea of pink and black shirts swarmed the pitch once more when the 20-year-old swept house Leverkusen’s fifth, prompting the referee to blow the ultimate whistle.

Leverkusen have been within the relegation zone when Alonso took cost in October 2022.

Barely 18 months later, they’re Bundesliga champions.