Bayer Leverkusen extend unbeaten run to 46 games with stunning Stuttgart late show

International
  • 28-04-2024, 09:30
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    INA- -source 

     
    Playing at the BayArena as Bundesliga champions for the first time in their 120-year history, the celebrations were in full flow for Leverkusen, but it was clear that everything wasn’t going to go their way. Welcoming Stuttgart, who would be the story of the season if it wasn’t for the runaway champions, the side from the Black Forest looked more than up for the fight. Dominating the early stages of the match, Sebastian Hoeneß’ men barely gave up the ball - an uncomfortable and unfamiliar position for the hosts to be in. VfB top scorer Serhou Guirassy made the best of it, but things soon looked familiar with the best chances falling to B04 who entered the break perhaps disappointed not to lead through Alejandro Grimaldo or Patrik Schick - who should have put away a rebound on the half-hour mark.
     
    Xabi Alonso likely only made a few minor tweaks in the dressing room at half-time, but was left with his head in his hands two minutes after the restart when Chris Führich opened the scoring with his third of the season against Leverkusen. Firing in on the rebound, the Germany international sparked wild celebrations in the away end, but there was more to come. Ten minutes later the BayArena was silenced as Denis Undav brilliantly steered in a strike from the edge of the box. It was the first time Die Werkself’s fans had seen their side two goals down all season in the Bundesliga, but that unfamiliar sensation didn’t last for long when Amine Adli matched Undav with another perfectly placed effort into the corner of the net. Given Leverkusen’s comebacks this campagin, another goal felt inevitable, particularly when Alexander Nübel parried Adli’s effort into the path of Jonas Hoffman for what looked like an open goal. However - the star stopper got up brilliantly for an astonishing double save. The match then became a battle between Guirassy and Lukáš Hrádecký, and the Leverkusen captain and goalkeeper came out on top, setting up another stunning late show. In the seventh and final minute of stoppage time, Leverkusen saw another chaotic set piece directed into the box by substitute Florian Wirtz, and there was Robert Andrich to smash home perhaps the most astonishing goal yet during a season full of them.