Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 Union Berlin: Xabi Alonso’s side equal Bayern Munich record and go top


Nathan Tella (right) joined Bayer Leverkusen from Southampton over the summer

Bayer Leverkusen returned to the top of the Bundesliga with a 4-0 home win over Union Berlin.

Xabi Alonso’s side have taken 31 points from a possible 33 this season, equalling the record set by Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich in 2015-16.

Alex Grimaldo, Odilon Kossounou, Jonathan Tah and Nathan Tella scored as Leverkusen replaced Bayern at the top.

“The feeling is great at the moment,” said former Spain and Liverpool midfielder Alonso.

“We have played with a lot of focus and concentration. But there are still a lot of matches and a lot can happen in football and suddenly all expectations are gone.”

Leverkusen have won 16 of their 17 matches in all competitions this season, including the past 12 in a row.

Alonso was appointed in October last year with Leverkusen second from bottom of the table after eight games.

They ended the season in sixth and reached the Europa League semi-finals.

Alonso’s only previous managerial experience was a three-year spell in charge of Real Sociedad’s B team, having retired from playing in 2017.

Champions Bayern moved to the top of table with a 4-2 win over Heidenheim on Saturday.

Union Berlin stay bottom on goal difference following a club record ninth successive defeat.

Line-ups

B Leverkusen

Formation 3-4-2-1

  • 1Hrádecky
  • 6Kossounou
  • 4Tah
  • 3Hincapié
  • 30FrimpongSubstituted forTellaat 81′minutes
  • 34Xhaka
  • 25PalaciosSubstituted forAndrichat 87′minutes
  • 20Grimaldo
  • 7HofmannSubstituted forAdliat 81′minutes
  • 10WirtzSubstituted forMbambaat 87′minutes
  • 22BonifaceSubstituted forHlozekat 87′minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Stanisic
  • 8Andrich
  • 11Amiri
  • 17Kovár
  • 18Mbamba
  • 19Tella
  • 21Adli
  • 23Hlozek
  • 32Puerta

Union Berlin

Formation 3-4-2-1

  • 1RønnowBooked at 74mins
  • 3Jaeckel
  • 23BonucciSubstituted forKnocheat 24′minutes
  • 4Monteiro Pinto Leite
  • 18JuranovicSubstituted forTrimmelat 45′minutes
  • 33Král
  • 20Laïdouni
  • 26RoussillonSubstituted forGosensat 78′minutes
  • 19Haberer
  • 27BeckerSubstituted forAaronsonat 64′minutes
  • 11FofanaSubstituted forBehrensat 78′minutes

Substitutes

  • 6Gosens
  • 7Aaronson
  • 12Busk
  • 16Hollerbach
  • 17Behrens
  • 28Trimmel
  • 29Tousart
  • 31Knoche
  • 36Kemlein

Referee:
Timo Gerach

Attendance:
29,387

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