Bayer Leverkusen celebrates the first league title in history with a unique record

The view of the table of the highest German competition is clear: the first Bayer Leverkusen collected an admirable eighty points after thirty matches, the second Bayern Munich – a phenomenon of the last years with eleven titles in a row – loses fourteen points (66) and can no longer defend the primacy.

Bayer Leverkusen will become the fourteenth team to win the prestigious competition, which has been played since 1963/1964.

When Leverkusen wintered in first place with a four-point lead over the Bavarian team, there was talk of hope. More like a whisper, the experiences from the past, when a well-played year did not reach the championship joy and five times ended just below the throne (most recently in the year 2010/2011), were literally corrosive.

More was believed in Bayern Munich, which dominated eleven previous years and with 32 triumphs is the clear ruler of the historical tables. In addition, at the beginning of January, Leverkusen faced the most demanding test, which was supposed to be submitted to its slightly narrower squad against the Bavarian competitor.

The experts were clear. “Leverkusen does not have the depth of Bayern, so it is a bit vulnerable in case of injuries, suspensions and other incidents like the African Cup,” pointed out German prestigious journalist Manfred Münchrath, head of the football editor of the sports weekly Kicker.

The concerns were justified. Several key players of the German club left to strengthen their homeland in the fight for the African football throne, and it was difficult to estimate how the demanding tournament would mark them.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Moreover, the first loss came before the start of the continental championship. Portuguese coach José Peseiro has called up bright striker Victor Boniface for Nigeria’s squad, but he injured his groin and stomach during a pre-season training camp in Dubai and was in danger of missing the entire spring.

And other wards of Spanish coach Xabi Alonso also started at the tournament in Ivory Coast. Edmond Tapsoba strengthened Burkina Faso, Amine Adli Morocco, Odilon Kossouma rejoiced at the triumph in the jersey of the home team.

As health ailments accompanied some of the players who remained in the weakened squad, including the Czech forward Patrik Schick, it was predicted that Bayern Munich would take advantage of this chance and go first.

It didn’t happen, Leverkusen resisted the onslaught, defended their invincibility and first place. “They showed tremendous mental strength, they managed a very difficult period,” Münchrath paid tribute to the players.

Three Czech representatives took part in the historic triumph. The national team forward Patrik Schick is indispensable, with his goal records (five in the Bundesliga, the same number in the Europa League and one in the domestic cup), which are often decisive, he leads the team to wins and successes.

However, Alonso’s fans and coach are constantly praying that he stays healthy and avoids any injuries. “Patrik has already proven many times that he is a striker of at least European level,” characterizes compatriot Pavel Hapal, who wore the jersey of the German club in 1992-1995 and is one of its legends. “It is enough to remind you that he was the top scorer of the 2021 European Championship and is considered one of the most dangerous strikers in the Bundesliga,” he adds.

Goalkeeper Matěj Kovář joined the team at the beginning of autumn from Manchester United and signed a contract for four years. He knew that he was going to the number two position, the Finnish number one and team captain with Slovak roots, Lukáš Hrádecky, has a certain place.

In a busy schedule, the 23-year-old Kovář made a splash in the domestic cup (four starts) and also got the opportunity to debut in the Bundesliga. No one doubts that his time will come.

Adam Hložek, the third striker in the bidding Maria, played the role of a substitute, and although it was constantly heard that the management was satisfied with him, it looks like he is going to leave. At least such news is leaking, it was reported by Bild magazine.

The English clubs Leicester and Leeds United have reportedly shown interest in his services, as well as the Italian AS Roma, with whom Leverkusen will face in the semi-finals of the Europa League. However, his manager Pavel Paska claims that this is just speculation and nothing is on the table.

The German employer demands ten million euros (about 250 million crowns) for Hložka, while two years ago he transferred from Sparta Prague for a reported thirteen million (about 325 million crowns).

But as they say in certain circles, even a gap is a business…

Bayer Leverkusen adds another wonderful record to the already won, but still uncelebrated title – they have not lost 45 games in a row. He maintained his invincibility even in the 30th round of the Bundesliga against the dangerous Borussia Dortmund, where he managed to equalize in the seventh minute of regulation.

The team once again proved that it has a heart in the right place and a fighting spirit. “I tip my hat,” Czech international David Jarolím, who played in the German top flight for fifteen years (1997-2012) in Bayern Munich, 1. FC Nuremberg and Hamburger SV, did not hide his respect.

He knew what he was talking about. “He had a tough game from the Europa League (advanced over England’s West Ham United), but he still showed an excellent performance, the hit round was played at a high pace. It is admirable that Leverkusen, who already secured the championship title a week ago, fought until the last second. It can be seen that he wants to maintain his streak of invincibility,” discussed Jarolím.

When the team defeated Mainz 2-1 in the 23rd round of the Bundesliga, they set a new German record of 33 matches without defeat, which was held by Bayern Munich from 2020 and 2021. Leverkusen also achieved it in one season, which makes it an even more impressive feat.

Until the end of the spring season, he has only four Bundesliga games (Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Bochum and Ausburg), two duels in the semi-finals of the Europa League against the Italian AS Roma (possibly the final), and the final of the German Cup against the second division 1. FC Kaiserslautern.

So he has a chance to reach the treble. The German Cup was the last trophy he won in 1993. It has been gathering dust for more than thirty years, and no more exhibits have arrived. “It’s been a long time,” agrees Hapal, who remembers the memorable final against Hertha Berlin (1:0). “He wanted to encourage it with further success,” he motivated his followers.

The big golden record is here – Bayer Leverkusen became the champion of Germany for the first time in history. And it doesn’t have to stop there.

Czech players in the team