Bayer Leverkusen delivered a commanding 3-0 win over Bayern Munich on Saturday, extending their lead at the Bundesliga summit by five points and asserting their dominance in the title race.
Josip Stanisic, Alejandro Grimaldo, and Jeremie Frimpong each found the net, contributing to Leverkusen’s historic unbeaten streak of 31 matches across all competitions this season.
This performance highlighted Leverkusen’s title aspirations, as they seek their first Bundesliga championship.
Bayern Munich, in pursuit of their 12th consecutive league title, were noticeably subdued, managing just a single shot on target throughout the match.
Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen, now on 55 points to Bayern’s 50, also narrowly missed additional goals, striking the woodwork twice.
Alonso praised his team’s disciplined approach, emphasizing their strategic patience and dominance even without ball possession. He remarked on the significance of the victory but called for continued focus, acknowledging the season’s ongoing challenges.
The match experienced a brief delay due to a fan protest against potential league financial reforms, with candy thrown onto the pitch. Once underway, Leverkusen quickly overpowered a Bayern side that lacked coherence and defensive solidity.
Stanisic, on loan from Bayern, broke the deadlock following a swift throw-in play orchestrated by Robert Andrich.
Grimaldo then doubled Leverkusen’s lead early in the second half, marking his eighth league goal, and nearly added another with a corner kick that hit the crossbar.
Despite a more relaxed approach as the game progressed, Leverkusen remained threatening, with Frimpong narrowly missing a third goal.
Bayern, including top scorer Harry Kane, struggled to influence the game, leaving coach Thomas Tuchel without clear answers for the team’s performance issues.
The match concluded dramatically as Frimpong capitalized on a misplaced venture by Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer into Leverkusen’s box during a corner, securing the final goal with a long-range effort into the unguarded net.
This victory marks a significant moment for Leverkusen, emphasizing their potent challenge for the Bundesliga title.