Spectacular Bayer 04 dances to the Christmas championship
Bayer Leverkusen have 39 points from 15 games in the Bundesliga. Super coach Xabi Alonso's team only drew three times. Against Eintracht Frankfurt, Boniface, Wirtz and Co. dance beautifully to the Christmas championship and put FC Bayern under a lot of pressure.
The magical "Christmas champions" Bayer Leverkusen continued their magical streak against Bayern's terror Eintracht Frankfurt and remain top of the table over the festive period. With a highly deserved 3:0 (1:0), coach Xabi Alonso's team kept their rivals from Munich at bay on Sunday and remained undefeated in their 24th competitive game of the season.
The outstanding Victor Boniface scored in front of 30,210 spectators in the sold-out BayArena to take the lead (14th) and also set up goals from Jeremie Frimpong (51st) and Florian Wirtz (57th), who also hit the crossbar (81st). Piero Hincapie failed to hit the post (84'). SGE, who had inflicted their first league defeat on the record champions the previous week in a sensational 5-1 win, are eighth in the table with 21 points.
Alonso had demanded "full throttle" and "two wins" from his team before the short winter break. To this end, the Spaniard once again relied on his well-rehearsed league squad after the mega-rotation during the week in the Europa League group stage tie against Molde FK (5:1).
The Grinch dreams of the championship
Visiting coach Dino Toppmöller only made one change to his starting line-up compared to the Bayern game - and was forced to do so. Niels Nkounkou replaced top scorer Omar Marmoush, who was suspended. Toppmöller emphasized that an "absolute top performance from each individual" was necessary against "currently the best team in Germany".
Neither fan camp joined the boycott against the DFL; instead, the Bayer side staged a choreography complete with title dreams. "Just one wish, year after year, one day it will come true" could be read across the entire north curve - with an oversized Grinch grinning with the championship trophy in the center.
Goals were inevitable in this duel: There had never been a 0-0 draw in 76 Bundesliga duels, and Bayer had scored in every competitive match this season. Frankfurt started aggressively and pressed high up the pitch, but Leverkusen made the first pinprick - with the kind help of Eintracht.
Wirtz works his magic
At first, the visitors gave Wirtz too much space, Boniface was also allowed to dribble unchallenged into the penalty area and national keeper Kevin Trapp's central shot slipped through his gloves. The lead played into the Werkself's hands.
Although SGE put up a decent fight defensively, there was hardly any relief going forward. Apart from a free-kick from Alejandro Grimaldo that hit the top of the crossbar (34'), Bayer also lacked any real goal threat in the first half.
That changed after the break. Under the watchful eye of DFB sports director Rudi Völler, Alonso's side upped the tempo. Boniface's shot could only be palmed aside by Trapp - the onrushing Frimpong just had to slot it in. Wirtz made the final decision with a magical lob after a solo run from the halfway line - this time Trapp had no chance.
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Source: www.ntv.de
