Reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen saw their slim hopes of defending the Bundesliga title all but extinguished after being held to a 1-1 draw away at St. Pauli on Sunday, April 20th. The result leaves them eight points behind leaders Bayern Munich with only four matches remaining.
Leverkusen, welcoming star midfielder Florian Wirtz back to the starting lineup after injury, took the lead in the 33rd minute. Patrik Schick met Álex Grimaldo’s free-kick delivery with a precise header for his 18th league goal of the season.
However, Xabi Alonso’s side, who won the league and cup double unbeaten last season, couldn’t find a second goal. St. Pauli grew into the game and were rewarded for their persistence in the 78th minute. Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hrádecký failed to hold onto a free kick, spilling the ball directly into the path of Carlo Boukhalfa, who tapped home the equalizer from close range.
“Clearly, mathematically it is not over but we know there are very, very few chances,” admitted Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso post-match. “Too many draws this season. That is the reason. Now the gap to Bayern is too big. But we have to be realistic.”
Despite the disappointment, the draw extended Leverkusen’s remarkable unbeaten away run in the Bundesliga to 32 matches, just one short of Bayern Munich’s all-time record set between 1985 and 1992.
The point earned is valuable for St. Pauli, moving them eight points clear of the relegation play-off place currently occupied by Heidenheim. For Leverkusen (64 points), overturning an eight-point deficit on Bayern Munich (72 points) in the final four games seems highly improbable.
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