Bayer Leverkusen Gifts Xabi Alonso a Dream Win on His Birthday
Birthdays are typically celebrated with gifts, but Werder Bremen's Olivier Deman (23) decided to gift something more precious - three points and a dream win for Bayer Leverkusen's coach, Xabi Alonso, on his 42nd birthday!
In Leverkusen's 11th Bundesliga and 17th competitive match win of the season, Deman's own goal kickstarted a 3-0 victory, propelling Bayer back at the top of the table, two points ahead of Bayern.
The game commenced post-international break with Leverkusen brimming with energy. They dominated the possession and dictated the course of the game. Their perseverance paid off as they bagged three unanswered goals.
Three minutes after a disallowed goal for offside, Werder's Deman experienced a misfortune. A corner kick by Bayer's Hofmann was mismanaged, leading to an awkward own goal when Deman's left foot inadvertently sent the ball into his net. Despite Zetterer's valiant attempts, the goal stood.
Zetterer, Werder's substitute keeper, had edged out Pavlenka, the usual number one, who was making a comeback after dealing with adductor problems.
Just before halftime, a corner kick led to another setback for Werder. They failed to clear the ball, allowing Hincapie to receive, move into the penalty area, and pass to Frimpong, who hammered in for a 2-0 lead (43').
Bayer's record-breaking dream streak continued with a second-half header by Adli. The Spaniard took an immense amount of time, outwitting Zetterer for an eighth competitive goal of the season. An achievement to be proud of (76').
Unfortunately, Bremen's opponents scored one more offside goal in the 82nd minute, a minor setback in an otherwise awe-inspiring victory.
The 3-0 victory was a promising start to the mammoth program leading up to Christmas, with a total of eight games in 25 days. The tough challenge ahead: Borussia Dortmund.
Bremen and their ailing coach, Ole Werner (35), endured a minor setback, but there's still hope. After three Bundesliga games without a defeat (two draws, one win), Werder remain in the middle of the table for now.
- The Bundesliga matchday 12 encounter between Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen was covered extensively in 'Bild's FB-Instantarticles.
- Bayer Leverkusen currently sits in second place with 46 points after 21 matches, trailing Bayern Munich with 54 points.
- Bayer Leverkusen has an impressive goal difference of +22, with 49 goals scored and 27 conceded.
- The German powerhouse has been strong at home, going undefeated in the last 16 matches, with their last 10 games yielding victories.
- Leverkusen's key players, such as Florian Wirtz and Patrik Schick, have been instrumental in their recent success. Wirtz has contributed 9 goals and 8 assists, while Schick has scored 14 goals in his last 11 Bundesliga appearances.
Despite showing impressive performance, Leverkusen's struggles to win close games and their defensive vulnerabilities have kept them eight points behind Bayern.
