Late goals from Robert Andrich and Patrik Schick capped off a dramatic comeback by Bayer Leverkusen, who secured a 2-1 win over TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Saturday at BayArena, extending their unbeaten run to 39 matches across all competitions this season.
Hoffenheim’s most prolific player, Maximilian Beier, scored his 13th goal of the season to give the visitors the lead after 33 minutes. They held out until two minutes from regulation time when Robert Andrich drew the home team level before Patrik Schick, assisted by substitute Nathan Tella, scored the match winner a minute into added time to secure the maximum points of the Bundesliga Game Week 27 fixture.
Xabi Alonso’s team’s Bundesliga title credentials were severely tested by Hoffenheim, who are aiming to end the season on a high, but the home team showed character to stay 13 points clear of Bayern München at the top of the table pending the latter’s Saturday’s late kick-off at home to Borussia Dortmund.
Leverkusen have now won 23 matches, drawn 4 and lost none of the 27 league matches. They are unbeaten in home Bundesliga matches this season, with 11 wins and two draws from their 13 contests at home.
This season, Leverkusen has experienced a remarkable transformation under the guidance of head coach Xabi Alonso.
Appointed in October 2022, Alonso’s tenure saw the team achieve significant milestones both domestically and in European competitions. By early 2024, Leverkusen will have set a new club record for the longest unbeaten start to a season, followed by breaking the Bundesliga record for the longest unbeaten run by a club in all competitions.
Alonso’s strategic signings and effective squad building have played a critical role. Notable additions included Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka, Jonas Hofmann, Alejandro Grimaldo, and Victor Boniface, who collectively enhanced the team’s depth and versatility.
They are also through to the DFB Cup semi-finals, with the possibility of a continental treble very much alive.
They are the only team across Europe’s top five leagues per UEFA coefficient yet to taste defeat in 2023/24, while their points and goal tallies (72 and 66, respectively) are club records at this stage of a league season.
