Bayer Leverkusen extended their lead at the summit of the Bundesliga to a commanding 10 points following a decisive 2-0 victory over 10-man Cologne on Sunday. The encounter witnessed the expulsion of Jan Thielmann from the hosts’ side early in the match. Goals from Jeremie Frimpong and Alejandro Grimaldo in each half secured the triumph for Xabi Alonso’s contingent, capitalizing on Bayern Munich’s draw with Freiburg on Friday.
With merely 10 matches remaining in the season, Bayer Leverkusen finds themselves within tantalizing reach of securing their inaugural Bundesliga title, a feat garnering attention from admirers across the continent for their manager, former Liverpool midfielder Alonso.
Meanwhile, in another Bundesliga fixture, Maximilian Beier’s brace propelled Hoffenheim to a 2-1 victory against Werder Bremen, despite being reduced to ten men following Marius Bulter’s expulsion in the 73rd minute. However, a stoppage-time goal by Skelly Alvero posed a late threat to Hoffenheim’s lead.
In LaLiga, Barcelona maintained their third position after a goalless draw against Athletic Bilbao at San Mames. The match was marred by the early exit of midfielders Frenkie de Jong and Pedri due to injuries. Xavi Hernandez’s side now trails league leaders Real Madrid by eight points, with a one-point deficit to second-placed Girona, whose 1-0 defeat to Mallorca earlier provided Barcelona with an opportunity to ascend the standings.
Elsewhere in European football, Atletico Madrid secured a 2-1 victory over Real Betis at home, while Villarreal showcased dominance with a 5-1 triumph over Granada, courtesy of Alexander Sorloth’s hat-trick. In Serie A action, Juventus stumbled to a 2-1 defeat against Napoli, leaving them trailing Inter Milan by 12 points. Bologna bolstered their Champions League aspirations by clinching a 2-1 comeback victory over Atalanta, with Lewis Ferguson securing the winning goal.
In Ligue 1, Brest narrowed the gap behind second-placed Paris St Germain with a 1-0 victory over Le Havre, extending their unbeaten streak to 13 matches. Toulouse staged a comeback to secure a 2-1 home win against fifth-placed Nice, while Lens climbed to sixth position following a convincing 3-0 victory against Lyon. Additionally, Lorient’s 2-1 win over Rennes propelled them out of the relegation zone, while Montpellier slipped down after a 2-2 draw with Strasbourg, and Metz secured a 2-0 victory against Nantes.