In the early hours of February 24, the 23rd round of the Bundesliga was played in an exciting game, with leaders Bayer Leverkusen playing at home to 17th-placed Mainz. In the end, thanks to midfielder Andrich's second-half goal, Pharma won 2-1 and set the record for the longest unbeaten streak of 33 games by a Bundesliga team.
In this game, manager Xavi Alonso made a series of tactical changes. He opted to put the centre-forwards of Schick and Iglesias on the bench and sent on the "front three" of Wirtz, Adley and Hoffman. The aim was to break down Mainz's defence with quick passes and agile movements, while creating chances for midfielders Xhaka and Andrich.
Just three minutes into the game, Bayer Leverkusen showed a strong attack. On the left, Xhaka stood near the top of the penalty area, not taken seriously by the defenders, and he fired a wonderful long-range shot straight into the goal, 1-0! Bayer Leverkusen took the lead first.
Although Mainz equalised with a free-kick in front, it did not deter the Leverkusen players, who have been on a hot streak of late. They were steadfast in their tactical approach to Alonso's tactics, constantly looking for good chances to open the scoring in the vicinity of the box.
In the first half, despite the 1-1 draw, Bayer Leverkusen were in complete control of the tempo of the game. They were in control of the game with a whopping 69% possession and 18 shots on goal with 6 of them on target. In particular, 12 shots were from distance around the top of the box, creating three excellent scoring chances.
In the second half, Alonso adjusted his tactics early and replaced Schick for Hofmann. However, Bayer Leverkusen still relied on long-range shots to find the back of the net. In the 64th minute, Wirtz broke through on the left and fired a long-range shot just wide of the post.
It wasn't until the 68th minute that Bayer Leverkusen finally ushered in the long-awaited goal! Andrich's long-range shot from 35 yards outside the box was not strong, but the trajectory of the ball was very strange, Mainz goalkeeper Zendner made a mistake in the save, the ball hit the net, 2-1! Pharmaceutical companies are leading again!
At the end of the game, Mainz substitute striker Ngankam fouled Xhaka in a defensive foul, and the referee decisively showed a red card! Mainz, who were playing away and undernumbered, were in despair.
In the end, the game ended with Bayer Leverkusen winning 2-1. Not only did they maintain their unbeaten record in all competitions this season, but they also officially surpassed Bayern Munich with a record of 33 consecutive unbeaten games, setting the record for the longest unbeaten run by any team in the Bundesliga. Their record of 19 wins, 4 draws and 61 points from 23 league games also puts them in the top three in Bundesliga history.
In the standings, Bayer Leverkusen are already 11 points ahead of Bayern. If Bayern fail to win at home to RB Leipzig later in the game, then Pharma will be on the horizon to win the first Bundesliga top flight title in the club's 120-year history.
The match showcased Bayer Leverkusen's strength and Alonso's subtle tactical set-up. The team's winning streak and morale are high, and we should expect even better performances in the Bundesliga!
Finally, let's look forward to Bayer Leverkusen continuing to maintain this good form, moving forward and bringing more excitement to the Bundesliga! Do you think Bayer Leverkusen can win the Bundesliga this season? Feel free to leave a message to share your thoughts!