Bayer Leverkusen Clinches Honorary Winter Champion Title After Edging Augsburg with a Last-Gasp Goal
Bayer Leverkusen has secured the honorary title of 'Winter Champion' following a hard-fought victory over their host Augsburg with a dramatic last-minute goal ending the match 1-0 on Saturday, in the final matchday 17 of the German Football League's first half.
Argentine Ezequiel Palacios scored the lone goal during injury time (90+4), further solidifying Leverkusen's lead with 45 points and restoring the gap to four points ahead of their closest chaser, reigning champions Bayern Munich.
Under the guidance of the brilliant Spanish coach Xabi Alonso, Leverkusen—aiming for its first-ever title—is enjoying a distinctive period in the Bundesliga, securing its third consecutive win and 14th victory of the season without suffering a single defeat.
Alonso, dubbed "the Genius" by the international press, has written himself into the annals of history by becoming the first German club to maintain an undefeated record in its first 26 matches across all competitions (23 wins and 3 draws).
Alonso's Brilliance on Three Fronts
Alonso's troupe, previous player for Real Madrid and Liverpool, has shined not only in the Bundesliga; they topped their group in the Europa League with a perfect score and achieved three victories in the domestic cup competition, reaching the quarter-finals stage where they will meet Stuttgart on February 6.
With this high-quality performance and outstanding results, the stock of the former Bayern Munich player has risen in the coaching market, sparking rumors about managing his former teams Liverpool and Real Madrid. However, the latter dispelled such speculation by renewing the contract of their current Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti until June 30, 2026, which coincides with the end date of 42-year-old Alonso's contract with Leverkusen, making the possibility of him taking over at Real Madrid in the future a plausible scenario.
Remarkable Leverkusen Numbers with the Outstanding Alonso:
- 26 matches played.
- 23 victories.
- 3 draws.
- 82 goals scored.
- Leading the Bundesliga with 45 points.
- Topping Group E in the Europa League with 18 points.
