Granit Xhaka stunner and pitch-invasion pandemonium as Bayer Leverkusen win first-ever Bundesliga title
Undefeated Bayer Leverkusen secured their first Bundesliga title on Sunday with a 5-0 victory over Werder Bremen, breaking an 11-year stranglehold on the league by Bayern Munich.
Xabi Alonso's team, who have now gone a league-record 29 matches without defeat this season to secure their first major trophy since 1993, have a 16-point lead over Bayern with five matches remaining.
Leverkusen left nothing to chance and sealed their title win at the first opportunity with Florian Wirtz bagging a hat-trick in a win that stretched their unbeaten run across all competitions to a remarkable 43 games this season.
They earned a 24th-minute penalty and Victor Boniface, who only recently came back after a three-month injury break, stepped up to score his first league goal since December and his 11th of the campaign.
Granit Xhaka, take a BOW! 🤩
An absolute WORLDIE from the Swiss midfielder, as Leverkusen look to have all but won the Bundesliga 🏆 pic.twitter.com/SuA4gVpLnY— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) April 14, 2024
There were chances to double their lead in a one-sided first half, with Amine Adli also hitting the woodwork for the hosts.
Werder came out fighting after the break, trying to spoil the party, but Granit Xhaka's missile on the hour from 25 metres out sparked wild celebrations in the stands.
There is to be a new name on the Bundesliga trophy:
🏆 Bayer 04 Leverkusen 🏆 pic.twitter.com/xUBVbkYENm— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) April 14, 2024
They were not yet done with substitute Wirtz adding another eight minutes later.
The Germany international, gearing up for Euro 2024 on home soil in June, bagged another in the 83rd with impatient fans then briefly running onto the pitch. He completed his hat-trick in the 90th to cap his team's five-star performance and secure the title in style.