Bundesliga: Leverkusen extend lead at the top
Bayer Leverkusen 3 - 0 Bayern Munich
Bayer Leverkusen dealt a significant blow in the Bundesliga title race with a resounding triumph over Bayern Munich, propelling them five points clear at the top.
Xabi Alonso's squad seized control in the opening half as Josip Stanisic expertly slotted home at the back post. The crowd erupted again shortly after halftime when Alex Grimaldo found the net from a challenging angle.
Jeremie Frimpong sealed the victory in injury time as goalkeeper Manuel Neuer ventured up for a corner kick.
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Dreams spark among home fans
At the BayArena, the home fans created an incredible atmosphere, and this had a positive impact on the players and coaching staff. The scenes at tbe end of the match proved the strong connection between fans and players. Could this incredible atmosphere spur Leverkusen to a Bundesliga title?
Many of the neutrals in this title race also want Bayern to finally miss out on a title. It would be seen as a huge positive for many should Leverkusen get over the line.
This is the BayArena, not the Anfield myth. They don’t use microphones to amplify the stadium noise. pic.twitter.com/BCfzDYn6zh
— Najiib (@Don_najiib) February 10, 2024
Despite not securing a major domestic trophy since their 1993 German Cup victory, Leverkusen exhibited no signs of being burdened by history in this crucial encounter.
While the atmosphere in the stadium reached a fever pitch, Leverkusen's victory was achieved with calculated precision and tactical prowess rather than riding solely on emotion.
The manner in which they scored their first two goals highlighted their dominance. Additionally, their adventurous wing-backs exploited Bayern's weaknesses in wide areas.
Leverkusen still have hopes of completing an unbeaten season. No team has achieved this feat in Bundesliga history, with Bayern losing just once during their title-winning campaigns in 1986-87 and 2012-13.
Disappointing Night for Harry Kane
What do you think of Harry Kane‘s performances this year so far?
— $hemsi 🇩🇪🇦🇱 (@shemsifcb) February 12, 2024
I think he’s far of from his October-December form where he’s been the best player in the world.
He’s wasn’t much involved this year - 3 G/A in 6 games and 2 of them were tap ins.
Team is very dependent on him. pic.twitter.com/RcdeHca021
Kane had a subdued performance, remaining on the periphery for much of the match. He managed only 18 touches against Leverkusen, failing to register a shot on target or create any major chances. He will be hoping that this remains only a bad day at the office, if he and his team want to finish the campaign with a trophy.
After departing Tottenham Hotspur in pursuit of silverware, Kane will be eager to avoid concluding his debut season in Germany without a winner's medal.
What went wrong for Bayern Munich?
For the first time in eight years, Bayern recorded just one shot on target in a Bundesliga fixture. The overall outcome serves as a setback for a team accustomed to dominating, affecting both their pride and points tally.
With plenty of matches remaining in the season, it's unlikely that the 33-time Bundesliga champions will concede defeat, allowing Leverkusen to cruise to victory.
However, Bayern boss Tuchel will be concerned by his team's subdued performance and his tactical defeat against his Alonso.
