LEVERKUSEN: Unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen eased past 10-man VfL Wolfsburg 2-0 on Sunday to restore their 10-point lead at the top of the table and stay firmly on course for a first Bundesliga title.

Leverkusen are now unbeaten this season across all competitions, stretching their run to 36 games without defeat.

Xabi Alonso’s team are on 67 points, with champions Bayern Munich on 57 following their 8-1 demolition of Mainz 05 on Saturday. There are nine matchdays left in the season.

“It wasn’t easy, but it was highly deserved,” said Leverkusen’s Granit Xhaka. “I’m sure the fans would have wished for more goals, but three points are three points.”

Leverkusen were handed an advantage when Wolfsburg’s Moritz Jenz picked up a second yellow card after 28 minutes.

Leverkusen, who had to come from two goals down to rescue a 2-2 draw at Qarabag in Azerbaijan on Thursday, showed no signs of fatigue and it did not take long for the hosts to make the extra man count.

Nathan Tella found enough space in the box to head in a perfect Alejandro Grimaldo cross in the 37th minute.

Florian Wirtz, who kick-started the resurgence in Thursday’s match in Baku with a beautiful chipped goal, added the second on Sunday with four minutes remaining.

Goals from Michael Gregoritsch and Maximilian Eggestein took Freiburg to a 2-1 win at Bochum ahead of next week’s Europa League second leg at West Ham United.

Eintracht Frankfurt beat nine-man Hoffenheim 3-1 at home, extending the gap between the two clubs to seven points and tightening the hosts’ grip on sixth place, the final guaranteed European spot.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2024