Bayer Leverkusen stretched their lead at the top of the Bundesliga table to 16 points this weekend following their 1-0 win at Union Berlin.
Florian Wirtz’s first half penalty was enough to secure a vital win for Xabi Alonso’s side to move them within the brink of creating history.
Manager of nearest rivals Bayern Munich, Thomas Tuchel, conceded the title last weekend after their loss to Borussia Dortmund and they fell further adrift after a shock 3-2 defeat to Heidenheim on Saturday.
“Naturally, I have no hope anymore,” Tuchel said. “No no no. After today’s game, I do not need to tell you anything more. How many points behind are we? 13?” Congratulations to Leverkusen.”
Alonso is now well on course to win the first league title of his managerial career and it now seems it is a matter of when, rather than if, Leverkusen are crowned German champions.
How soon can Bayer Leverkusen be crowned Bundesliga champions?
The earliest Bayer Leverkusen can be crowned champions is Sunday, April 14.
Leverkusen are 16 points clear at the top of the table with just 18 points to play for from their final six matches.
If Bayer win their next match at home to Werder Bremen, they will be crowned champions on Sunday. If Leverkusen draw against Bremen, they will still be crowned champions if both Bayern and Stuttgart fail to win their matches.
Should Leverkusen lose against Bremen, they could also win the league if both Bayern and Stuttgart lose. If the best Bayern and Stuttgart can muster is a draw, Leverkusen will be 15 points clear with five matches remaining and would only be able to be caught via goal difference.
Regardless of Bayern and Stuttgart’s results, though, if Leverkusen win any one of their final six matches, they cannot be mathematically caught by their rivals.
Have Bayer Leverkusen won the Bundesliga before?
No. Bayer Leverkusen have never won the Bundesliga title before.
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They have finished second on five separate occasions and in 2000 lost the title on the final day of the season. Two years later, they were five points clear at the top of the league with three games remaining and lost two of their final three matches to surrender the title to Borussia Dortmund.
Can Bayer Leverkusen win the treble?
Yes, Bayer Leverkusen can still win the treble this season.
Bayer are also in the final of the DFB Pokal (the German Cup) and will face 2.Bundesliga side Kaiserslautern in Berlin on Saturday, May 25.
They are also one of the favorites to win the UEFA Europa League and face Premier League side West Ham United in the quarter-finals later this month.
Should they beat the Hammers over two legs, they will face the winners of the tie between Serie A sides AC Milan and Roma for a place in the final.
When was the last time Bayer Leverkusen won a trophy?
Bayer Leverkusen haven’t won a trophy since winning the DFB Pokal in the 1992/93 season. Their only other major trophy success came in 1988, when they won the UEFA Cup.
Since then, they have been dubbed the “nearly men” or “Neverkusen” after finishing runners up in the Bundesliga five times, the DFB Pokal three times and the UEFA Champions League once.
In 2001/02, Leverkusen were also on course for a treble but blew a five point lead at the top of the Bundesliga and were beaten in the final of the DFB Pokal final by Schalke and the Champions League final by Real Madrid.
Are Bayer Leverkusen still unbeaten this season?
Yes, Bayer Leverkusen are unbeaten in all competitions so far this season.
Alonso’s side are yet to taste defeat in 41 matches across the Bundesliga, DFB Pokal and the Europa League and remain on course to win an unprecedented unbeaten treble.