Bayer Leverkusen fans are having the time of their lives after their club won its first-ever Bundesliga trophy on Sunday with a win over Werder Bremen. The German club, who are still pursuing a treble this season, have won the league with five matches to spare in what has been one of the most remarkable seasons ever from a German side.
Xabi Alonso has built a phenomenal team and with the Spaniard already confirming his desire to stick around for at least one more season, its party time in Leverkusen. Before their match with Werder Bremen on Sunday, supporters flocked to the streets to greet the team in preparation for what was always going to be a historic day.
The atmosphere inside the BayArena was electric throughout the match and the players followed suit, none more so than superstar, Florian Wirtz. The playmaker, who has been electric all season, scored his first-ever hat-trick as Alonso's men ran out 5-0 winners.
Wirtz had asked fans not to invade the pitch until full-time but when his third went in in the 83rd minute, passion spilled over and several Leverkusen fans entered the field.
Florian Wirtz asked the Leverkusen fans not to invade the pitch until the final whistle. 🏆
Look at the scenes when he scored in the 83rd minute to make it 4-0, even the steward forgot his job for a second… 🤣
The power of football. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Tej69tVDSw
— Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) April 15, 2024
It didn't dampen any of the late atmosphere, though, and after the final whistle the entire stadium rushed onto the pitch to celebrate the occasion with players and staff. Red flares were set off from pitch level to create a stunning scene, one befitting of such a historic occasion for the club.
A night to remember for Bayer Leverkusen fans
For more than a decade, German football has been dominated by Bayern Munich with the Bavarian Giants winning the last 11 Bundesliga titles in a row. The league has been crying out for a rival for them since Jurgen Klopp left Borussia Dortmund and now they have more than just a rival, they have a new team to beat.
For Bayer Leverkusen fans, the wait has been a lot longer than 11 years. Since being formed in 1904, the club have chased eternal glory in Germany and have narrowly missed out on several occasions. They enjoyed a purple patch in the early 2000s when the likes of Michael Ballack, Oliver Neuville, Lucio and Dimitar Berbatov led them to a Champions League final.
HISTORY MADE! 🤩#Winnerkusen #DeutscherMeisterSVB pic.twitter.com/xNHvrNApVS
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) April 14, 2024
However, there was to be no ‘nearly' moment this time and the pursuit for an unbeaten treble continues. They are 2-0 up in their Europa League quarter-final tie with West Ham and have a DFB-Pokal final with Koln to look forward to at the end of May.