Sports Bundesliga
Landmark victory in Frankfurt – Leverkusen continues their record series even without Alonso
As of: 8:20 p.m. | Reading time: 3 minutes
Bayer Leverkusen is not showing any weaknesses against Eintracht Frankfurt. The Werkself are the more mature team in the Bundesliga duel – and without their coach Xabi Alonso on the sidelines.
Xabi Alonso left his stand in a good mood shortly before the final whistle. The suspended coach must have really liked what he saw of his Leverkusen team from higher up. With the 5:1 (2:1) on Sunday evening at Eintracht Frankfurt, the German football champions expanded their super streak and proved: It’s possible without the successful coach on the sidelines – even if that should remain an exception.
“We knew that each individual would have to take on more responsibility. We did well even without the coach,” said goalscorer Granit Xhaka: “We wanted to stay unbeaten today, but we did it once again. We are very close to achieving something very special.”
The factory club gained additional momentum for the semi-final second leg of the Europa League next Thursday in Leverkusen against AS Roma (first leg 2-0). Xhaka (12th minute), Patrik Schick (44th), Exequiel Palacios from the penalty spot (58th) and substitutes Jeremie Frimpong (78th) and Victor Boniface (89th/foul penalty) scored for Bayer. Striker Hugo Ekitiké scored the interim equalizer for Eintracht in front of 58,000 spectators (32nd).
“I can communicate with the bank”
While the Leverkusen team can continue to pursue their mission of invincibility this season, the Frankfurt team have to worry about sixth place in the table in the final spurt of the season. With a win, the Hessians would have certainly had it – and thus at least qualification for the Europa League.
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Leverkusen’s successful coach Alonso watched the game coolly and calmly from the main stand with white earplugs. Being in the stands obviously didn’t bother him or the team. “I can communicate with the bank. We have a different view from the stands,” said the Spaniard on the streaming service DAZN before kick-off. His team continues to head for a dream season with three titles and not a single game lost.
Master coach Xabi Alonso (m., front) has to serve a yellow card suspension in the game with Bayer Leverkusen in Frankfurt
Source: dpa/Arne Dedert
“It will be a big task, but we also want to approach it with a certain amount of energy and pose problems for the opponent,” said Frankfurt coach Dino Toppmöller before the game. Eintracht started boldly and offensively, but the Hessians didn’t initially create any real chances to score.
Instead, the Werkself made it 1-0 with their first chance thanks to a precise long-range shot from Xhaka. Leverkusen stayed on the trigger and wanted to make it 2-0. However, that didn’t work.
Out of nowhere, Frankfurt equalized through Ekitiké. The winter newcomer is getting better and better at Eintracht and scored in the third game in a row. The home team now played with more confidence again and should have made it 2-1. After a fine pass from Ekitiké, Omar Marmoush shot the ball over the goal in front of Leverkusen keeper Lukas Hradecky (42nd). Bayer punished this with a header from Schick before the break.
At the start of the second half, both teams met on equal terms. After Frankfurt’s Niels Nkounkou unnecessarily pulled Nathan Tella’s jersey in the penalty area (56th), referee Christian Dingert consequently decided on a penalty for the guests. Palacios converted safely.
Bayer then switched to management mode and let the Toppmöller team come. Frimpong completed a perfectly executed counterattack to make it 4-1. After a foul by Knauff on Frimpong and the use of VAR, Boniface made the final score from the spot.