Bayer Leverkusen made history on Sunday by clinching their first-ever Bundesliga title in their 120-year existence, defeating Werder Bremen 5-0 and ending Bayern Munich's 11-year reign over the German top flight.
Leverkusen, under the leadership of Xabi Alonso, displayed nerves of steel in a commanding performance that sealed their victory and extended their unbeaten streak to an impressive 43 games across all competitions. A hat-trick from Florian Wirtz, along with goals from Victor Boniface and Granit Xhaka, propelled Leverkusen to glory, finally shedding their infamous 'Neverkusen' label.
As the final whistle approached, jubilant fans couldn't contain their excitement, with some prematurely storming the pitch. However, the players managed to usher them back, and as the clock struck 90 minutes, tearful supporters flooded the field to celebrate with the team.
Leverkusen's triumph sees them sitting comfortably atop the Bundesliga table with 79 points after 29 games, a historic achievement in German league history, boasting a 16-point lead over Bayern Munich and Stuttgart.
The atmosphere was electric as Leverkusen's bus navigated through a sea of black and red-clad fans en route to the BayArena. Fans even renamed the street in honor of coach Xabi Alonso, reflecting the city's overwhelming support for the team.
Looking ahead to their Europa League clash against West Ham, Alonso made strategic changes to his lineup, including benching key players like Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Alex Grimaldo. However, the replacements proved their mettle, with Boniface scoring early on and Wirtz securing a hat-trick in style.
Meanwhile, Darmstadt suffered a 1-0 defeat to Freiburg, pushing them closer to relegation with only five games remaining, highlighting the stark contrast in fortunes between the two teams on a momentous day for Leverkusen.
