Bayer Leverkusen have become the first team to go through a whole Bundesliga season unbeaten after defeating Augsburg 2-1 on Saturday.
Xabi Alonso’s side clinched their 28th win of the season, with goals from Victor Boniface and Robert Andrich sealing the victory.
Leverkusen also drew six games but never lost, ending the season on 90 points. Only Bayern Munich’s 2012-13 champions have recorded more (91) in the Bundesliga era.
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Bayern, meanwhile, finished third after losing 4-2 at Hoffenheim. Stuttgart’s 4-0 win against Borussia Monchengladbach saw them climb one point above Thomas Tuchel’s team. It is the first time Bayern have failed to finish in the top two of Germany’s top flight since 2010-11.
Leverkusen are also unbeaten across all competitions in this campaign, reaching the German Cup and Europa League final in the process. Alonso has challenged his side to make the most of their “unique” situation.
He said: “To reach 90 points is extremely strong. The record is 91, we just missed that, but to remain undefeated is extraordinary.
“This achievement is outstanding, not only in Germany but also in Europe. From tomorrow we have our next big goals in sight — the next week is unique with these opportunities.”
“The fans can celebrate today. We will enjoy it and then recover tomorrow.
“It is an important day for the club and it is totally deserved to become champions undefeated, unbelievable, so we will need some time to let that sink in.
“Our team has written itself into Bundesliga history. In 20 years we will look back and all be able to say, ‘wow, we were there’.”
| Team/Season | Country | Games played | Finishing pos. |
|---|---|---|---|
Preston in 1888-89 | England | 22 | 1 |
Athletic Bilbao in 1929-30 | Spain | 18 | 1 |
Real Madrid in 1931-32 | Spain | 18 | 1 |
Perugia in 1978-79 | Italy | 30 | 2 |
AC Milan in 1991-92 | Italy | 34 | 1 |
Arsenal in 2003-04 | England | 38 | 1 |
Juventus in 2011-12 | Italy | 38 | 1 |
Bayer Leverkusen in 2023-24 | Germany | 34 | 1 |
Earlier this month, Leverkusen’s 2-2 draw against Roma in the Europa League semi-finals ensured the German side went 49 games unbeaten and broken the record for the longest streak without losing to a European club since the introduction of UEFA club competitions in 1955.
Leverkusen’s streak began with an 8-0 victory over FC Teutonia Ottensen in the German Cup on August 12 and they surpassed the Portuguese club Benfica’s record of 48 consecutive games without a loss from December 1963 to February 1965.
That legendary Benfica team, led by Eusebio, won the Portuguese league and cup during their unbeaten run.
Under Alonso, Leverkusen has remained undefeated in 34 Bundesliga games, five German Cup matches, and 12 Europa League games, winning 42 of these matches.
Their success has put them on the verge of a treble. They have already clinched the Bundesliga title, ending Bayern’s 11-season dominance. They will face second-tier Kaiserslautern in the German Cup final on May 25 and Atalanta in the Europa League final on May 22.
GO DEEPER
How Bayer Leverkusen won the Bundesliga: Alonso magic, breaking up cliques and clever transfers
(Hesham Elsherif/Anadolu via Getty Images)
