The stigma of the “eternal second” stuck to the Bayarena for many years. Manifested in the term “Vizekusen”. Not only did the small Unterhaching in 2000 ensure that Bayer Leverkusen had to send the championship trophy to Munich on the last match day; two years later, the club also lost a five-point lead on the last three matchdays and “only” came runner-up in the DFB Cup and the Champions League. In the years that followed, the opposing fans’ chants echoed loudly through the Bundesliga stadiums: “Never be German champions, you will never be German champions.” These chants have become increasingly quieter in recent years and have finally fallen silent completely. Even the fans of 1. FC Cologne – not necessarily known as big friends of their neighbor on the city limits – no longer had the once popular song in their repertoire when they visited in October 2023.
On Sunday, the Bayer professionals can finally ensure that it stays that way in the future. With a win against Werder Bremen (Sunday, 5.30 p.m./DAZN), coach Xabi Alonso’s team can secure the championship title on matchday 29. One person who should be particularly happy about this is Rudi Völler. The current sports director of the German Football Association (DFB) and long-time Bayer official experienced the “Vizekusen” era up close. “The term annoyed me a bit. But sometimes you have to go through it. We never managed it before, but that’s over,” the 63-year-old told the GA at an appointment in Bonn.
Leverkusen is about to win the championship
On Thursday evening, Völler watched alongside Bayer boss Fernando Carro in the stands at the Bayarena as Leverkusen even kept their chance for the treble: With a 2-0 win over West Ham United, the Werkself opened the door to the semi-finals of the Champions League. And the team is already in the final of the DFB Cup. “The club has put together a wonderful squad and – that is ultimately the big secret – hired an outstanding coach in Xavi, who has really turned a very, very good team into an outstanding team,” praised Völler, who also spoke again on Sunday will sit in the Bayarena.
The Bayer supporters gave a small foretaste of the possible Bundesliga crowning after the European Cup game when they greeted the celebrating players in front of the stands with “Only SVB will be German champions” and “And we will be German champions this year”. the club anthem. “I got goosebumps when the fans sang,” said Jonas Hofmann. The midfielder came on as a substitute in the 76th minute, and just seven minutes later he scored the 1-0 himself and prepared the 2-0 for Victor Boniface, who was also substituted (90th + 1), so that Bayer now has the best prospects for the second leg flies to London next Thursday (9 p.m./RTL).
Writing history for the club and fans
Looking ahead to Sunday, the match winner had one big wish: no sofa championship. “We are lucky that everything is set up perfectly for Sunday. I hope we can decide for ourselves,” he explained in the catacombs. “We don’t want to do this on the couch with a glass of water the day before,” because “you can’t really let your emotions out there.” That’s why he’s keeping his fingers crossed for his pursuers Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart on Saturday (both 16 points behind).
Successful coach Alonso is also looking forward to the first match point: “The anticipation is great. It can’t be bigger,” he said: “If we win, we’re champions. We have to go full throttle. We have 90 minutes to achieve something very special.” The Bayer coach does not believe that his team could tense up in the face of their first chance to win the title. “We are very stable in our minds, motivated but not over-motivated,” he said. And besides, we can and want to make everything clear on Sunday, “but luckily we still have a lot of chances.”
In any case, his actors are determined to take advantage of the first opportunity. “We know we can make history. For the club, for the fans, for ourselves,” said midfield boss Granit Xhaka: “We will do everything to close the bag.” And then, says Hofmann, “hopefully it will be indescribable after the game.” In the stadium – not on the sofa.