Leverkusen’s Granit Xhaka, second from left, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening purpose the German Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and 1. FSV Mainz 05 on the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, on February 23, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP
Granit Xhaka scored his first purpose for Bayer Leverkusen because the Bundesliga chief defeated Mainz 2-1 and set a German report of 33 video games unbeaten throughout all competitions.
Leverkusen, which hasn’t misplaced a match since final season, stretched its result in 11 factors earlier than 11-time defending champion Bayern Munich — which held the earlier unbeaten report of 32 video games — hosts Leipzig on Saturday. Eleven rounds stay after this weekend.
“We deserve to be where we are,” Xhaka mentioned.
“When you’re eight points, now 11 points, ahead of second-place Bayern, there is a lot to lose. But we’ll keep working day by day, game by game, stay positive, and I’m sure we’ll be able to keep getting our wins.”
The buildup to Friday’s match was dominated by hypothesis over the way forward for Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso, together with his former golf equipment Bayern and Liverpool searching for new coaches for subsequent season.
Alonso has no lack of suitors after taking Leverkusen from the relegation zone when he took over in October 2022 to a real title candidate in his first senior administration job.
“It’s all just speculation, my head is totally here,” Alonso repeated on Friday.
“We have so much to do, we’re in such a super position. So enjoying it, preparing, and that’s all that’s going on in my head.”
Supporters celebrated the German soccer league’s midweek resolution to scrap its plan to herald an out of doors investor for a share of media rights revenue by displaying a banner saying “Football belongs to the fans.”
They did not have to attend lengthy to have a good time once more when Xhaka fired Leverkusen right into a third-minute lead. The Swiss midfielder let fly from outdoors the penalty space for his first purpose on his thirty first look for the membership.
But Dominik Kohr replied for the guests with a header on the different finish 4 minutes later.
Leverkusen went on to dominate possession. The residence crew’s urgency grew towards the tip of the half, when Álex Grimaldo drew an excellent save from Robin Zentner with a free kick.
Leverkusen’s frustrations grew when Jeremie Frimpong was booked for complaining after he’d been tripped by Mainz defender Phillipp Mwene when he would have been by way of on purpose. TV replays confirmed there was contact. Alonso was additionally booked for his complaints.
The frustration remained after the break as Leverkusen didn’t discover a means by way of.
Then the in any other case glorious Zentner failed to carry Robert Andrich’s harmless-looking shot and the ball looped in over his head within the 68th. It proved sufficient for the win as Mainz’s hopes had been hit within the eightieth when Jessic Ngankam was despatched off after a VAR examine for a harmful deal with on Xhaka.
“We’ve played better,” Alonso mentioned.
“But that’s normal in a season, you can’t always play super.”
Source: www.thehindu.com
