Bayer Leverkusen have become the first team to go an entire Bundesliga season unbeaten after they ended the regular campaign with a 2-1 victory over Augsburg.
Goals from Victor Boniface and Robert Andrich earned Leverkusen their 28th league victory of the season, having been crowned as German champions for the first time last month. Leverkusen have finished on 90 points from their 34 matches, a mammoth 17 ahead of second-place Stuttgart.
Xabi Alonso has worked wonders since moving to Leverkusen in October 2022 and helped the club to a sixth-placed finish following a disappointing start to the season. Although many expected Leverkusen to enjoy an improved Bundesliga campaign, few would have anticipated them to go the whole season unbeaten.
That is exactly what has happened to Leverkusen, who have romped to the Bundesliga title without losing a single match. In fact, Alonso's side have picked up the second-most amount of points (90) ever accumulated in a German top-flight season, with Bayern Munich (91) leading that list.
After the win over Augsburg, the Leverkusen players and staff walked around the BayArena to thank the fans for their support over the course of the season. They then picked up their Bundesliga winners' medals before lifting the trophy for the first time in their 120-year history.
"It's an exceptional season that we've made, not just in Germany but I think in Europe," Alonso said. "We remember the (2003-04 Arsenal) Invincibles in the Premier League and Juventus in (Italian Serie A in 2011-12), so we deserve this part of history in European soccer."
When asked if their Bundesliga achievement had sunk in yet, Alonso added: "I believe it, but I need more time, and for now we don't have much time. For tomorrow we have our next big target."
Leverkusen now have the chance to go the entire campaign unbeaten in all competitions, as they prepare for the Europa League final against Atalanta on Wednesday before the DFB-Pokal final against Kaiserslautern next Saturday. Alonso's side have now not lost in 51 matches this season.
Despite losing 1-0 to Juventus in the Coppa Italia final on Wednesday, Atalanta have enjoyed a fine end to the campaign, winning six and drawing one of their last eight matches in all competitions. They also beat Sporting CP, Liverpool and Marseille en route to the Europa League final.
As for Kaiserslautern, they have endured a difficult season in Bundesliga 2 and sit 15th, four points above the relegation play-off spot with one game remaining. However, their run to the DFB-Pokal final has been nothing short of sensational, having beaten the likes of Koln and Hertha Berlin on the way.
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