Bayer Leverkusen, under the leadership of Xabi Alonso, has extended their lead over Bayern Munich by ten points at the summit of the Bundesliga standings. This development follows their decisive 2-0 triumph against FC Koln in the Rhine Derby at the RheinEnergieSTADION on Sunday afternoon. The draw of Bayern Munich against Freiburg on Friday afternoon has heightened the possibility of them relinquishing their hold on the Bundesliga title, with Thomas Tuchel’s team appearing to struggle.
Leverkusen has enjoyed a remarkable season thus far, maintaining an unbeaten record across all competitions. Their latest victory, propelled by goals from Jeremie Frimpong and Alejandro Grimaldo, positions them closer to securing their inaugural Bundesliga title. Leverkusen capitalized on a numerical advantage following Jan Thielmann’s expulsion in the 14th minute for a foul on Granit Xhaka, formerly of Arsenal.
The first half saw Leverkusen dominate proceedings, boasting a 72 percent possession rate. Despite their dominance, they had to wait until the 38th minute to break the deadlock. Grimaldo delivered a menacing cross into Koln’s penalty area, finding Patrik Schick, whose deft flick set up Frimpong for an unchallenged tap-in.
In the second half, Leverkusen continued their offensive onslaught but encountered difficulty converting their chances. Nonetheless, they have amassed an impressive tally of 61 goals in 24 league matches this season. Koln, however, offered stern resistance, prolonging Leverkusen’s quest for further goals.
The breakthrough arrived in the 73rd minute when Grimaldo, a standout performer throughout the match, received a pass from Amine Adli inside the penalty area. Grimaldo unleashed a low strike that appeared to deflect off Marvin Schwabe’s thigh, the Koln goalkeeper, before nestling into the back of the net, marking his tenth goal of the season.
For Koln, the defeat solidifies their position in 16th place in the Bundesliga table, relegating them to the relegation playoff spot. Their inability to secure a victory in their last four matches exacerbates their precarious situation.
Historically, no team has failed to secure the league title after establishing a ten-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga table. Leverkusen now finds themselves in a favorable position to halt Bayern’s streak of 11 consecutive title triumphs.