Bayer Leverkusen’s 2024 title bid is well on track after Xabi Alonso’s team picked up three more points with a 2-1 win away to FC Heidenheim 1846.
By Saturday tea-time Die Werkself were eight points clear at the top of the Bundesliga table and when FC Bayern lost 3-2 away to Bochum on Sunday the celebrations in Leverkusen could be heard in Bavaria.
Leverkusen scored a goal in each half as they made it 32 matches unbeaten in all competitions, equalling FC Bayern’s top flight record. Against a well organised Heidenheim defence Jeremie Frimpong eventually broke the deadlock, just before half time, with the help of a slight deflection. The league leaders dominated the game and attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz was inches away as his shot cannoned away off the crossbar.
It was Wirtz who finished the game though when he delivered a brilliant ball for Amine Adli to score a late second and, even though Tim Kleindienst halved the deficit on 87 minutes, there was never a real prospect of the hosts getting a result.
Bayer Leverkusen have never won a league title, last finishing runners up in 2011, and they haven’t picked up any silverware since they won the DFB Pokal in 1993; but that 30 year wait could be coming to an end. This could well be a big moment in the campaign as Heidemheim were no pushover. The hosts came into the game on an eight match unbeaten run and the defeat sees them settle in tenth place.
The latest Bundesliga 2024 betting odds make Die Werkself odds on favourites to win the title and they are also the team to beat in the DFB Pokal…could this be a double year for Alonso’s men?
Brilliant Bochum bash Bayern
The Bavarians were at SBOTOP odds of 1.34 to win away to Bochum on Sunday afternoon but they had a torrid first half which saw them go in with a 2-1 deficit at the break. Bayern laid siege to the Bochum goal in the opening quarter of an hour and they were rewarded when Jamal Musiala smashed his shot high into the net. Bundesliga top scorer Harry Kane had a great chance to double the lead, but when he was clean through on goal he blasted his shot over. And the England man paid for his miss when Asano beat Manuel Neuer with a brilliant finish into the far corner and then, just before the break, Keven Schlotterbeck headed Bochum into the lead.
On 78 minute s Bayern’s bad night got worse when Dayot Upamecano was red carded for an elbow on Schlotterbeck and Kevin Stoger fired home the penalty to make it 3-1. When Leroy Sane was clean through on goal Manuel Riemann made a brilliant save though Bayern did pull a goal back when Kane had an 86th minute tap-in. But that was it –wild celebrations in the Ruhrstadion and dismay for Thomas Tuchel’s team.
Bayern’s nightmare week is finally over. After losing 3-0 to Bayer Leverkusen and 1-0 to Lazio in the Champions League; this was another hefty blow. But while the Bavarians lick their wounds, Bochum move up to 11th and away from the danger zone.
Wolves give BVB a bite
BVB have been on the charge in recent weeks and they have taken up residence in the top four, but they had a frustrating afternoon in Wolfsburg where they had to settle for a share of the points. Dortmund scored a scrappy opener when a Marco Reus shot caused chaos in the Wolves’ defence and keeper Koen Casteels eventually parried the ball into the path of Niclas Fullkrug and the striker prodded the ball home.
The mid table hosts were up for the fight though, and they came close to equalising when Kevin Behrens hit the woodwork, but they levelled, midway through the second half, when Yannick Gerhardt headed home.
In other Bundesliga 2024 news on Saturday, third placed VfB Stuttgart won 1-2 away to Darmstadt as Serous Cuirass made a scoring return from the African Cup of Nations, and that win gives Stuttgart a five point lead over Dortmund.
Tragedy in Leipzig
Red Bull Leipzig desperately needed a win against Borussia Monchengladbach and they delivered with a 2-0 victory, as Lois Openda struck again to make it 16 goals for the campaign. But it was a terribly sad day in Leipzig as the crowd fell silent with the news that a supporter had tragically died during the match. Following news there was a medical emergency in the stands the game was stopped but attempts to resuscitate the Red Bulls fan were tragically unsuccessful.
Because Dortmund were held by Wolfsburg this victory pulled Leipzig up to within a point of Die Schwarzgelben and so the top four race is certainly hotting up, but our thoughts tonight are with the family and friends.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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