Leverkusen on cusp of first Bundesliga title after Bayern loss
Bayer Leverkusen are just three points from a first Bundesliga title after a 1-0 win at Union Berlin on Saturday, with Bayern Munich letting a two-goal lead slip in a 3-2 loss at Heidenheim.
Bayern were cruising at half-time thanks to strikes from Harry Kane and Serge Gnabry but conceded three times in the second half, losing their second match in a row.
Florian Wirtz converted a penalty deep into first-half stoppage time as Leverkusen were made to work hard in the German capital against 10-man Union, extending their unbeaten run this season to 41 games.
Xabi Alonso's side need just three points from their remaining six matches to clinch the club's first league title.
Bayern, on a streak of 11 straight Bundesliga titles, could relinquish their crown next week in between the first and second legs of their Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal.
Union did their best to hold on despite Leverkusen's relentless pressure but gave way just before half-time, Germany defender Robin Gosens picking up a second yellow for a desperation tackle on Nathan Tella near the penalty box.
After some chaotic scenes from the ensuing free-kick the ball connected with the arm of Union captain Christopher Trimmel, giving Leverkusen a penalty after a long VAR review.
Wirtz calmly dispatched the penalty, his third goal in his past two games.
Late in the second half word filtered through to the visiting fans that Bayern were trailing at Heidenheim, sending them into raptures.
"Of course the situation is super but we don't want to celebrate yet," said Alonso.
"We can maybe celebrate something next Sunday. Before that there's a Europa League game (at home against West Ham).
"Nothing is settled yet and we need to wait a little."
Bayern looked in fine form early on, despite missing several injured first teamers including captain Manuel Neuer, Leroy Sane and Kingsley Coman, with coach Thomas Tuchel taking a cautious approach with Tuesday's Champions League trip to Arsenal in mind.
The ever-reliable Kane, yet to miss a league match this campaign, opened the scoring, scrambling in a Gnabry assist after 38 minutes.
Gnabry seemingly had Bayern on track for a simple victory when he scored just before the break, but the hosts turned the match around early in the second half.
Kevin Sessa and Tim Kleindienst both scored inside the space of 90 seconds to level the scores and stun the visitors.
Kleindienst struck again with 11 minutes remaining to snatch victory in their first home match against Bayern, a goal celebrated 460 kilometres away in Leverkusen.
"We were drastically punished for not keeping our energy," Tuchel said.
"The manner in which we lost today was too easy. Congratulations to Heidenheim. They turned the game on its head."
In Saturday's late game, Stuttgart won 1-0 at Borussia Dortmund to draw level with second-placed Bayern on 60 points.
Serhou Guirassy scored the only goal of the game, blasting in on the counter for his 24th league goal of the season.
Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck had a golden chance to equalise late but somehow blazed over with the goal beckoning.
Schlotterbeck told Sky the setback would not hurt Dortmund ahead of Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg against Atletico Madrid.
"We've got a nice game waiting for us in Madrid on Wednesday," he said
"When we play like we did today, I'm positive we will win."
Dortmund's loss means they drop to fifth, pushed out of the top four by RB Leipzig who won 4-1 at Freiburg earlier on Saturday thanks to a brace from Belgium forward Lois Openda.
Amadou Haidara opened the scoring just one minute in and Openda added two more before half-time either side of a missed penalty from Freiburg's Lucas Hoeler.
Openda, who arrived from Lens last summer, now has 21 goals for the league campaign.
Mainz won 4-0 at home over last-placed Darmstadt to keep their hopes of avoiding relegation alive.
They have lost just one of their past five and sit in the relegation play-off spot, five points from safety.
Cologne also boosted their bid to avoid relegation, scoring twice in added time to win 2-1 at home against Bochum.
-
How much for Oasis tickets? Fans joke about splurging on reunion shows[Newsmaker] Controversies surrounding ministers fan talks of Cabinet reshuffleNorth Korea refuses Punggyeri26项2024中国预制菜产业前沿科技系列成果发布Where to preTwo coronavirus“食”力出圈!汕尾展团闪耀预制菜“第一会”Facebook's engagement is sinking with no end in sight'Please find her': Man dies amid 25Republicans will vote on their health care plan Thursday.
- ·How much for Oasis tickets? Fans joke about splurging on reunion shows
- ·Texas police officer Roy Oliver who killed Jordan Edwards is charged with murder.
- ·Music could make Snapchat more like TikTok
- ·North Korea
- ·一针一线串起两代人的传承故事
- ·“食”力出圈!汕尾展团闪耀预制菜“第一会”
- ·Kenyan lawyer brings boxing and justice to the slums
- ·Trump’s solicitor general tries and fails to argue that the president is a serious person.
- ·12 Sculptures Made From Recycled Materials
- ·Sweden’s Duplantis eyes Tokyo gold
- ·Huawei MateBook X Pro is far cheaper in the U.S. than in Europe
- ·Are Putin and Trump getting along again?
- ·Cheap heat
- ·省农业农村厅到化州市开展乡村治理、现代农业及纵向帮扶工作调研
- ·North Korean delegation visits China: reports
- ·Report: Another personality quiz exposed Facebook data from millions
- ·让法治建设成效更加可感可及
- ·[Newsmaker] Three children show abnormal reactions to mishandled flu vaccines
- ·Parliament's annual audit to center on N. Korea, justice minister
- ·North Korean delegation visits China: reports
- ·Who is the Dark Wizard in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' Season 2?
- ·Report: Google working on Pixel
- ·Music could make Snapchat more like TikTok
- ·Donald Trump tweets support for ZTE and now everyone's confused
- ·Coach jailed for sexual exploitation of underage athlete
- ·Sweden’s Duplantis eyes Tokyo gold
- ·'Terminator Zero' creators find fresh life in sci
- ·Pochettino favourite to replace Tuchel
- ·Facebook's engagement is sinking with no end in sight
- ·Prosecutors seek 18
- ·NASA rover snaps photo of its most daunting challenge yet
- ·Moon urges no let
- ·Report: Another personality quiz exposed Facebook data from millions
- ·Civilian killed by NK left no signs suggesting defection
- ·23 Peculiar Places of 2023
- ·N. Korean Buddhists send prayer to Seoul to mark joint summit