Clubs’ tussle for supremacy in Germany may be at its end as the futures of Alonso and Wirtz remain uncertain Read moreIt had not quite been the titanic end that anybody had hoped for, with Bayern letting in a 95th-minute Yussuf Poulsen equaliser that stopped them officially sealing it on Saturday Harry Kane suspended so he couldn’t take part at all and Leverkusen getting a leveller in the fourth minute of stoppage time at Freiburg on Sunday which ended up meaning little to anyone apart from the hosts and their rivals for Champions League qualification It did, however, epitomise the struggle. There will be some who seek to diminish the achievements of Bayern, of Kane despite winning his first major trophy of Vincent Kompany in his first season of elite-level head coaching Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen have turned the Bundesliga upside down in the last two and a half years Even the first year of Kane in the Bundesliga wasn’t enough to deny them It has taken England’s captain being joined by the magnificent Michael Olise the continued progression of Jamal Musiala (surely now the Bundesliga’s best player) and the unlikely influence of Kompany evolving the Bayern environment into something slightly more holistic Seeing Bayern with a worthy opponent for the first time since Jürgen Klopp brought Borussia Dortmund to the top has been exhilarating that Alonso’s touchline celebration of Jonathan Tah’s equaliser in Freiburg – big smile clenched fist – might have just said it all He wasn’t celebrating what it was but what had been in that incredible last season but in almost every moment since his October 2022 arrival propelling Die Werkself from the bottom to higher than where they thought the top was shredding every notion of impossible along the way Tah’s flicked header was a reminder of all those late comebacks the improbable result-from-the-jaws-of-defeat moments that stacked up last season and even Yet removed from any sort of real sporting meaning for the team it felt like a tribute a nod to what coach and players had achieved together which Alonso is widely expected to replace Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid with club and coach in Nord Rhine-Westphalia sitting in limbo until the terms and the timings of the Italian’s departure for the Spanish capital are agreed “Hand on heart,” sighed Granit Xhaka after Sunday’s game when you know who’s going to be on the sidelines next year But that shouldn’t be an excuse for the last few weeks.” Xhaka lamented the scratchy form and missed opportunities that have followed Champions League elimination by Bayern non-mincer of words and Alonso’s authority on the field couldn’t avoid a sense of finality even as he said that he hoped the coach would stay “We had him for two years,” said the captain “Whether we have him for a third year is not my job to say Jonas Urbig Konrad Laimer and Eric Dier celebrate after Bayern’s title win It is not only Alonso’s future that lies at the heart of the equation but that of Florian Wirtz Since returning from the muscle injury that undercut the money stretch of Leverkusen’s season the No 10 has been short of his imperious best and he was quiet on Sunday afternoon – right up until the moment where he wasn’t skating past a brace of challenges and steering in a fine shot from the edge of the box to drag his team back into the game and mount the platform for that next late comeback Augsburg 1-3 Holstein Kiel, Dortmund 4-0 Wolfsburg Free daily newsletterKick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football which has been so in both the direct confrontations and at a distance A more improbable return to the status quo is that of Dortmund coming to within touching distance of a return to the Champions League Niko Kovac’s team continued their hot streak and their return from the wilderness with a 4-0 thrashing of Wolfsburg which lifted them to fourth overnight on Saturday although Freiburg reclaimed that final Champions League spot with their Sunday point Karim Adeyemi of Borussia Dortmund celebrates the victory with some interesting headwear Photograph: Ralf Ibing/Firo Sportphoto/Getty Images After the humbling at Signal Iduna Park with Wolfsburg drifting in mid-table meaninglessness was much more than just an irritant to Bayern now in sixth but only two points behind Freiburg as a battle royale for the top four is set up For Freiburg’s Julian Schuster to make it in his debut season would be sensational – but they travel next to Holstein Kiel the team that refuse to go down and pulled off a brilliant 3-1 win at Augsburg this weekend to keep alive their chance of getting the relegation playoff spot (Kiel also travel to Dortmund Jonathan Burkhardt’s equaliser for Mainz stopped Eintracht Frankfurt getting the win they needed to clinch top four in Sunday’s late game but they need an absolute maximum of two points to make sure Bayern Munich winning the league appears to be inevitable.. Bayern Munich needs a slip-up from Bayer Leverkusen to clinch the Bundesliga title today so the players and staff have gathered to watch the match “Many will meet today and watch [Freiburg vs Leverkusen] together,” sporting director Christoph Freund told Abendzeitung’s Maximilian Koch (via @iMiaSanMia) Sport Bild’s Christian Falk confirmed the news as well (via @iMiaSanMia): Bayern players and their families are invited at the Käfer restaurant in Munich today to watch Freiburg against Leverkusen and celebrate the title if it’s officially secured Bild’s Heiko Niedderer captured some of the players going into the restaurant: Die Bayern versammeln sich zur Sofa-Meister-Party im "Käfer". Kimmich, Dier, Gnabry kamen als erste, gerade auch Harry Kane und Vincent Kompany. pic.twitter.com/aqBtjpEV0z Bayern gathered for the Sofameister party at the “Käfer” (Beetle) Looking for more thoughts and discussion on Bayern Munich’s wild 3-3 draw with RB Leipzig? Awesome, then check out our Bavarian Podcast Works — Postgame Show on Patreon, Spotify Also, be sure to stay tuned to Bavarian Podcast Works for all of your up to date coverage on Bayern Munich and Germany. Check us out on Patreon and follow us on Twitter @BavarianFBWorks You have come to the all new Global edition playCarlo Ancelotti's move to Brazil in jeopardy (0:40)Take a look at the important news and notes about Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti's potential move to Brazil being stuck at an impasse Xabi Alonso is waiting just like everyone else to see who will coach Real Madrid next season The Spanish coach said on Friday he knew "nothing new" about his future amid links to his former club but that he understands why the uncertainty continues and no decisions have been made "I respect what happens in other clubs," the Bayer Leverkusen coach said "It's not a situation that I need to talk about I know that they're at a stage in the season in which they're still fighting for the championship Alonso is widely expected to return to Madrid -- where he played from 2009-14 -- and take over if current coach Carlo Ancelotti departs at the end of the season The 65-year-old Italian's contract with Madrid runs for another season but he is being courted by the Brazilian Football Confederation after what has been a disappointing season so far for the Spanish powerhouse Madrid were eliminated by Arsenal in the Champions League quarterfinals, lost the Copa del Rey final to bitter rivals Barcelona last weekend and are trailing the Catalan club by four points with five rounds remaining in La Liga Sources told ESPN this week that there remains a stand-off between Ancelotti and Madrid over the manner and timing of his departure from the club which needs to be resolved before he could accept the Brazil job Xabi Alonso has been widely linked to taking over as Real Madrid coach for next season. Lars Baron/Getty ImagesAlonso, who took over Leverkusen when they were in the Bundesliga's relegation zone in October 2022, led the team to an unprecedented German league and cup double last season. No other side has ever completed a Bundesliga season unbeaten A drop in performance levels was perhaps inevitable. Leverkusen were surprised by third-division team Arminia Bielefeld in the semifinals of the German Cup and look set to watch Bayern Munich lift the league trophy on Saturday Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro and sporting director Simon Rolfes are keen for Alonso to see out his contract through next season. But they are also identifying possible replacements with Kicker magazine reporting on Friday that former Manchester United and Ajax coach Erik ten Hag has emerged as the favorite The club has also been linked with former Barcelona coach Xavi "We haven't spoken about that," Alonso said of his possible successor We spoke about a few issues in the morning and there's always a good connection and communication We're all informed about everything and there's never a problem for us We'll wait until the right moment until there's something to decide." The 43-year-old coach added he isn't concerning himself with any of the speculation I know you're expected to have something new at every press conference Leverkusen play at Freiburg in the Bundesliga on Sunday Information from The Associated Press was used in this report playBurley: Casemiro isn't the answer for Man United (1:37)Craig Burley isn't convinced by Casemiro's resurgence following the Brazilian's performance in Man United's 3-0 win over Athletic Club in the Europa League semifinal Transfers homepage | Done deals | Men's January grades | Women's January grades The 26-year-old's contract doesn't expire until the end of June but it's reported that Liverpool would be open to "waiving" the final month of his salary while also accepting a small fee from Los Blancos that is expected to be under €1 million The Club World Cup is set to begin June 14 with a special transfer window from June 1 to June 10 so clubs at the Club World Cup can add to their squads clubs can also make changes to their Club World Cup squads around July 1 has made 46 appearances across all competitions for Ajax this season while he is also considering retiring after his contract at the Allianz Arena expires next month ESPN's Dale Johnson on the chase for the signature of Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah If clubs are looking for a towering presence in the centre of defence they should look no further than Jonathan Tah And that's exactly why so many clubs want to sign the Germany international on free transfer so the club that does sign the Bayer Leverkusen player knows they aren't likely to get much of a transfer fee in the future But they will get a proven title winner and 35-cap international for nothing Tah has literally been head and shoulders above any other defender to play 35+ games His aerial duel success rate of 74% is way ahead of any other player with Ivan Ordets of VfL Bochum second on the list with 69.8% Tah has also registered 307 ball recoveries the fourth best in the Bundesliga -- Borussia Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck dominates this stat with 402 - A move for on-loan Real Betis winger Antony is being considered by Atlético Madrid. Manager Diego Simeone's side is the latest to be linked, and the Red Devils are expected to request an offer worth between €40m and €50m. (El Chiringuito TV) - Bilal El Khannouss is a potential transfer option for Arsenal as Mikel Arteta looks to add squad depth. The 20-year-old Morocco international joined Leicester City from Genk for £21m last summer and has been a rare success in a terrible relegation season. (Daily Mirror) - Theo Hernández is one of the left-back options Real Madrid are looking. The AC Milan defender, 27, would be a "low cost" alternative who's at his peak, and would be open to a return to the club he joined in 2017 before leaving for Serie A in 2019. Hernández's deal at Milan is up in 2026, making him an accessible option. (Diario AS) - Arsenal have added Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman to their list of options for the summer, though there are other clubs keen on the 27-year-old. Lookman is planning to take the next step in his career having recorded 20 goals and seven assists across all competitions this term, and the Premier League return is seen as a possible option for him. (Florian Plettenberg) - Real Madrid want Man United to exercise their right to re-sign Álvaro Carreras from Benfica for £15m, and then send the left-back to the Bernabeu for £27m -- giving the Red Devils a profit and allowing Los Blancos to circumnavigate the £50m transfer fee wanted by the Portuguese club. (Diario AS) - Man United are preparing a move for AFC Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, with scouts impressed by his performances. The Red Devils could face competition from Liverpool, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur for the 25-year-old, while the Cherries will demand £40m-£50m. (Football Insider) - Man United have made very positive progress in a meeting with the camp of Wolves forward Matheus Cunha. Key details on the salary structure of a contract until 2030 are settled, with only minor details remaining amid confidence that an agreement on personal terms can be reached soon. (Rudy Galetti) - Tottenham have been watching Borussia Monchengladbach striker Tim Kleindienst, who could be available for €28m if the Bundesliga club fail to qualify for Europe. (Bild) - Arsenal are facing competition from Borussia Dortmund and Internazionale for the signature of Brazilian forward Luighi. The 19-year-old Palmeiras player recently signed a new contract through to 2029 with a release clause of over £70m. (The Sun) - Bayer Leverkusen,Bayern Munich and West Ham United are interested in AC Milan centre-back Malick Thiaw. (Nicolo Schira) - Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City are all interested in Flamengo right-back Wesley, with the Blues having made an initial contact with the 21-year-old's representatives. (Ekrem Konur) - Everton are considering making a move to sign Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap ahead of Chelsea and Man United. (TEAMtalk) - Lazio are looking at Borussia Monchengladbach left-back Luca Netz, while Valez Sarfield's Valentin Gomez, Valencia's Cristhian Mosquera, Lugano's Albian Hajdari and Leicester City's Wout Faes are being considered for the centre of their defence. (Corriere dello Sport) - West Ham United are ahead of Newcastle United in their efforts to sign Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, with the Hammers preparing an offer of around £20m. (Ekrem Konur) - Maximo Perrone, on loan at Como from Manchester City, will stay at the Serie A club next season. Como have the option to extend the loan, but there are also talks over a permanent deal. (Fabrizio Romano) - Leeds United are considering offering a contract to Jamie Vardy, who will leave Leicester City when his contract expires next month. (TEAMtalk) Real Madrid are acting quickly as they prepare to part ways with Carlo Ancelotti and choose Alonso as their next manager Xabi Alonso is getting closer and closer as we speak The Spaniard will not face any antagonism from Bayer Leverkusen as he leaves but the club has decided to replace him with someone Real Madrid know According to COPE, Leverkusen are considering replacing Xabi Alonso with Alvaro Arbeloa who is presently the manager of Real Madrid's youth facility Leverkusen intends to replace the Spaniard with a top-tier manager and it appears that Arbeloa's chance to establish himself on the largest platform has arrived Arbeloa presently manages Juvenil A at La Fabrica and has a lengthy history with the academy He is also one of the best Real Madrid players ever There is little doubt that his positive relationship with Los Blancos influenced his decision to stay after retirement The retired footballer's coaching job is new to him his performance thus far has been positive and it makes a lot of sense for them to replace one former Real Madrid player turned manager with another Earlier reports indicated that the German club was interested in signing former Barcelona manager Xavi to replace Xabi The possible trade of Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa might also benefit Los Blancos financially Alonso's release clause at Leverkusen is around 8 million euros Though the sum is small in comparison to the type of leader they would hire Madrid may be able to negotiate a lower compensation with Leverkusen in order to sign Alonso © 2025 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Minute Media or its affiliates and related brands All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER The Spaniard will not face any antagonism from Bayer Leverkusen as he leaves According to COPE, Leverkusen are considering replacing Xabi Alonso with Alvaro Arbeloa Manchester United’s pursuit of French starlet Axel Tape appears to have suffered a decisive blow with Bayer Leverkusen emerging as the front runners to sign the Paris-Saint Germain defender The Red Devils were linked with a move for Tape, 17, as part of an ambitious triple raid on PSG for three of the Ligue 1 champions’ highly-rated academy stars along with Mahamadou Sangare and Oumar Camara All three youngsters are set to leave the Parc de Princes this summer as their contracts will expire at the end of the season and they are free to negotiate with potential suitors United have demonstrated a renewed emphasis on attracting the best young talent from across world football since INEOS gained control of the sporting operation at Old Trafford The captures of Ayden Heaven (18) and Chido Obi (17) from Premier League rival have been supplemented by the signing of Sekou Kone (18) from Mali side Guidars FC and Paraguayan wonderkid Diego Leon (18) from Cerro Porteño Tape – a quintessential modern centre-back combining excellent physical attributes with high level ball-playing skills – is considered one of the best defensive prospects in Europe with a host of clubs across the continent joining United in their pursuit Ruben Amorim’s three-at-the-back system would be the ideal formation for a young defender with Tape’s skillset to walk into as Heaven’s ascension into the first-team this season has demonstrated An academy football expert believes the 17-year-old has the ” potential to play at the top level in Europe” and represents a “great market opportunity” for whoever wins the race for his signature drawing a comparison to Bournemouth’s breakout star Dean Huijsen Florian Plettenberg (Sky Sports) reveals Tape is “very open” to joining Bayer Leverkusen and would “prefer” a move to last season’s Bundesliga champions over one to the Premier League 🚨⚫️🔴 Axel #Tape is very open to joining Bayer 04 Leverkusen this summer as a free agent Leverkusen see him as a top player for the future Simon Rolfes and Kim Falkenberg have had video calls with the player and his agent, and Tape was impressed. Premier League clubs were… pic.twitter.com/lvrlgEQJDw — Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) May 3, 2025 Tweet: “Axel #Tape is very open to joining Bayer 04 Leverkusen this summer as a free agent Simon Rolfes and Kim Falkenberg have had video calls with the player and his agent but the 17-year-old talented centre-back from Paris SG 23 would prefer a move to Leverkusen.” Plettenberg is a Bundesliga football expert with excellent contacts in Germany meaning this update is likely to be a nail in the coffin for United’s pursuit of Tape though INEOS have proven they will pull out all the stops to secure elite young defenders as last summer’s move for Leny Yoro proved Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about We’ve detected that JavaScript is disabled in this browser Please enable JavaScript or switch to a supported browser to continue using x.com You can see a list of supported browsers in our Help Center Help Center Xavi Hernández has been waiting for an opportunity that catches his attention since his dismissal from Barcelona The Catalan  is on Bayer Leverkusen's list of targets to take over from his compatriot Xabi Alonso  on the bench in which various matters of vital importance have been discussed He is interested in the position and would be delighted to coach Leverkusen, but  Xavi Hernández wants several things to be defined before making any decision. There is much  speculation about the departure of Florian Wirtz More than 120 million (euros) would be on the table which is a matter that concerns the former FC Barcelona player He was the one who gave him his first opportunity in the elite and rescued him from the reserve team when he seemed to be out He made him stand out in his first season with Barça and  now Fermín López's participation has decreased with Flick they will fulfill his wish and bring the Andalusian attacking midfielder to him Fermín López has become one of FC Barcelona's great revelations in the last two seasons has proven beyond doubt that he has the level to wear the blaugrana jersey His emergence has not been a flash in the pan: this season More than notable numbers for a footballer who combines talent Fermín López | Getty ImagesXavi made him debut in the first team after his loan to Linares and he did not hesitate to trust him in high-level matches He was his great supporter and the first to highlight his personality on the field His ability to break lines, his tactical intelligence, and his offensive instinct have made him a valuable piece in the culé machinery. Barça has in Fermín a player with a present.. ➡️ F.C. Barcelona After a disastrous start to the 2024/25 campaign, Erik ten Hag was dismissed as Ineos ended months of speculation over the manager’s future Ruben Amorim was made United head coach in November following Ruud van Nistelrooy’s four-match run as interim manager the results worsened as the season went on United beat Athletic Club 3-0 to put one foot in the Europa League final on Thursday night. They remain the only unbeaten team in European competition ahead of next week’s second leg tie at Old Trafford with the winner facing either Tottenham or Bodo/Glimt in the final on 21 May That means Champions League qualification is still a possibility for United, despite sitting 14th in the Premier League Amorim is still working with the Ten Hag’s squad, despite the additions of two players – Ayden Heaven and Patrick Dorgu – from the January transfer window United are looking to continue rebuilding United’s first team this summer while Ten Hag considers a new chapter in his managerial career Ten Hag has been linked with several jobs across Europe Feyenoord listed Ten Hag as a candidate but the move would have been too controversial given his links to Ajax. The Eredivisie club ended up hiring former United striker Robin van Persie instead Ten Hag was also linked with a move to Borussia Dortmund before the Bundesliga outfit hired Niko Kovac Now, however, Ten Hag is being linked with the Bayer Leverkusen job with reports suggesting that Xabi Alonso will replace Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid An update from German publication Kicker claims Ten Hag has been named as the number one candidate for the job It is understood that talks are at an ‘advanced’ stage which means Bayer Leverkusen want to have a replacement ready for Alonso’s inevitable departure Alonso’s Leverkusen side currently eight points behind first-place Bayern Munich Leverkusen are already showing signs that they want to be prepared for next season by engaging in talks with the former United manager United were linked with many Dutch players during Ten Hag’s time at the club The Dutch coach was responsible for bringing four Netherlands internationals to the club but he was unable to get the best out of any of them In his last summer at United, Ten Hag signed Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee but he didn’t get a lot of time to work with the players before being sent his marching orders One player often linked with United during that spell was Bayer Leverkusen star Jeremie Frimpong Ten Hag could finally link up with the talented right wing-back if he succeeds Alonso though the Bundesliga side may struggle to keep the 24-year-old this summer Found. Redirecting to /Plettigoal/status/1918619848235417709 Xabi Alonso is waiting just like everyone else to see who will coach Real Madrid next season "I respect what happens in other clubs," the Bayer Leverkusen coach said Madrid were eliminated by Arsenal in the Champions League quarterfinals, lost the Copa del Rey final to bitter rivals Barcelona last weekend Xabi Alonso has been widely linked to taking over as Real Madrid coach for next season. Lars Baron/Getty ImagesAlonso, who took over Leverkusen when they were in the Bundesliga's relegation zone in October 2022, led the team to an unprecedented German league and cup double last season. No other side has ever completed a Bundesliga season unbeaten A drop in performance levels was perhaps inevitable. Leverkusen were surprised by third-division team Arminia Bielefeld in the semifinals of the German Cup and look set to watch Bayern Munich lift the league trophy on Saturday Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro and sporting director Simon Rolfes are keen for Alonso to see out his contract through next season. But they are also identifying possible replacements with Kicker magazine reporting on Friday that former Manchester United and Ajax coach Erik ten Hag has emerged as the favorite. The club has also been linked with former Barcelona coach Xavi. "We haven't spoken about that," Alonso said of his possible successor. "We speak, Fernando is there. We spoke about a few issues in the morning and there's always a good connection and communication. We're all informed about everything and there's never a problem for us. We're staying calm. We'll wait until the right moment until there's something to decide." The 43-year-old coach added he isn't concerning himself with any of the speculation. "I'm staying calm. I know you're expected to have something new at every press conference, but that's not my job. It's to prepare the team for every game. That's all I can say." Leverkusen play at Freiburg in the Bundesliga on Sunday. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. While it’s not official yet, all signs point to Xabi Alonso leaving Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season to take over as head coach of Real Madrid. Several names have been linked with the job, but according to kicker, only three candidates are in contention: Erik ten Hag, Xavi Hernández (both currently without a club), and Cesc Fàbregas, who is coaching Italian side Como. The report states that one of the three is expected to land the job, with ten Hag and Fàbregas seen as the frontrunners. However, ten Hag’s salary demands could prove to be a major hurdle. During his time at Manchester United, who dismissed him in October 2024, he moved into a salary bracket that Leverkusen may struggle to match. That said, no compensation fee would be required to sign him. Fàbregas, on the other hand, is under contract with Como until 2028. Meanwhile, Xavi has been out of work since leaving Barcelona last summer and has reportedly turned down offers from clubs in the Middle East. Bayern Munich on Sunday were crowned German champions for the 34th time, giving striker Harry Kane his first major trophy, after second-placed Bayer 04 Leverkusen drew 2-2 at SC Freiburg. Bayern’s 3-3 draw at RB Leipzig on Saturday, when the Bavarians came from two goals down to take the lead before conceding a stoppage-time equalizer, meant defending Bundesliga champions Leverkusen needed to win at Freiburg to delay the title party. Leverkusen were two goals down before scoring twice in the final 10 minutes, but Xabi Alonso’s side could not find a third, as Bayern reclaimed the title at the first attempt after Leverkusen ended their 11-year reign last season. Alonso, who won three Bundesliga titles as a player with Bayern, congratulated his former club. “Congratulations to Bayern. It’s a deserved championship. They were the more consistent team over the season and they deserve the shield,” Alonso told DAZN. Kane, who had never previously won silverware, was among a group of Bayern players who gathered to watch the Leverkusen game in Munich on Sunday. The England captain was suspended for the match at Leipzig, but is to return on Saturday against Borussia Moenchengladbach at home, where Bayern will be presented with the Bundesliga shield. With Bayern’s far superior goal-difference, Leverkusen’s chances of defending their title were already all but impossible. Freiburg’s Maximilian Eggestein hit a stunning goal from outside the penalty area before halftime and Piero Hincapie was pressured into scoring an own-goal just after the break. Florian Wirtz netted a spectacular solo goal with eight minutes remaining, carving through the middle of the field before firing the ball in off the post. Jonathan Tah headed Leverkusen level in stoppage-time, but the visitors were unable to find the third goal which would have extended their spell as champions. The result left Leverkusen, who became the first team in history to win the title unbeaten last season, eight points behind Bayern with two games remaining. With their faint title hopes gone, Leverkusen’s focus will turn to keeping hold of Alonso and Wirtz, who could both be headed for the exit in the summer. Alonso has a contract at Leverkusen until next year, but has been heavily linked with Real Madrid, where he spent five seasons as a player. Wirtz’s deal expires in 2027, but the Germany midfielder is reportedly considering a big-money move to Bayern. Tah, who has already confirmed he will leave the club on a free transfer after a decade in Leverkusen, said: “[We had] too little intensity, we had too few runs in behind. It didn’t work today.” The Germany centerback has been linked with moves to Barcelona and Bayern. The late goal meant Leverkusen extended their unbeaten streak away from home to 33 games, equaling a Bundesliga record set by Bayern. The draw keeps Freiburg in fourth, one point clear of Borussia Dortmund, in the final UEFA Champions League spot. Freiburg have never played in Europe’s top competition. Elsewhere, Eintracht Frankfurt were held to a 1-1 draw at FSV Mainz 05, missing a chance to seal Champions League qualification. Frankfurt took the lead through Rasmus Kristensen on 16 minutes, but Mainz pegged them back through Jonathan Burkardt in the 57th minute. Hugo Ekitike had a chance to win it in the final minute, but put his shot just wide of the post. Frankfurt, who won the 2021-2022 UEFA Europa League, stay third, five points clear of fifth-placed Dortmund with two games remaining. Earlier, Holstein Kiel won 3-1 at Augsburg, keeping their hopes of beating the drop alive. Kiel won thanks to a double from Alexander Bernhardsson and a Shuto Machino penalty, and are now one point behind Heidenheim in the relegation playoff spot. Harry Kane and Bayern Munich's frustration was short-lived as Bayern Munich officially clinched the Bundesliga title after Bayer Leverkusen drew 2-2 against Freiburg Leverkusen are eight points behind Bayern Munich and can no longer afford to catch up with their rivals thus ending their dream of a league title even before the matches against Borussia Dortmund and Mainz Leverkusen's chances of winning titles this season are over no one can say that Leverkusen didn't at least try to delay the Bavarians' party as they controlled 70% of Freiburg's possession during the first half but the home team were more assertive and managed to get a goal before the break among the three shots on target during the match The lead built up by Max Eggstein in the 44th minute was extended shortly after the break when Hincapé ended up scoring an own goal on Manzambi's head in the 49th minute Xabi Alonso's side needed three goals to prevent an early exit from the Bundesliga There was every indication that the score would stand after the second goal notoriously discouraged last season's champions but the fans believed again in the 82nd minute when Wirtz made a good individual run and hit the keeper's corner to reduce the deficit Jonathan Tah scored the equalizer and created a sense of urgency in the quest for victory Harry Kane had to play in 65 different leagues to finally achieve glory with a trophy that will come in a special way due to the 24 goals he scored in 29 games guaranteeing him the Bundesliga's top scorer this season With just two games remaining, Leverkusen are eight points behind Bayern Munich and can no longer afford to catch up with their rivals, thus ending their dream of a league title even before the matches against Borussia Dortmund and Mainz. In other words, Leverkusen's chances of winning titles this season are over. Despite this, no one can say that Leverkusen didn't at least try to delay the Bavarians' party, as they controlled 70% of Freiburg's possession during the first half, but the home team were more assertive and managed to get a goal before the break, among the three shots on target during the match. The lead built up by Max Eggstein in the 44th minute was extended shortly after the break when Hincapé ended up scoring an own goal on Manzambi's head in the 49th minute. In this scenario, Xabi Alonso's side needed three goals to prevent an early exit from the Bundesliga. There was every indication that the score would stand after the second goal notoriously discouraged last season's champions, but the fans believed again in the 82nd minute when Wirtz made a good individual run and hit the keeper's corner to reduce the deficit. Four minutes later, Jonathan Tah scored the equalizer and created a sense of urgency in the quest for victory, but Freiburg resisted the final pressure. Until his first official title, Harry Kane had to play in 65 different leagues to finally achieve glory, with a trophy that will come in a special way due to the 24 goals he scored in 29 games, guaranteeing him the Bundesliga's top scorer this season. Bayern Munich confirmed Bundesliga title with Harry Kane after draw between Bayer Leverkusen and Freiburg Bayern Munich wrapped up the Bundesliga title with two matches to spare If the results looked chalky in this antepenultimate (that means third from last) round of games in the season It’s kind of anticlimactic when you win the title because the second-place team drops points, but ask Harry Kane and Eric Dier if they care. The ex-Spurs players saw their trophy-less spells end after Bayer Leverkusen could only manage a draw against Freiburg Dier has already announced he will leave Munich after this season and he’ll do so with a Bundesliga medal to show for it The little Dutchman assisted on two goals for RB Leipzig, including Yussuf Poulsen’s goal deep into stoppage time that earned them the draw against Bayern Munich his pass from inside his own half gave Benjamin Šeško tons of space to run into and allowed the Slovenian striker to lob over an out-of-position Jonas Urbig The draw delayed Bayern’s title celebrations but it was a huge point for the Red Bulls’ Champions League aspirations It was the Swedish striker’s turn to provide the clutch plays for Holstein Kiel. He scored two goals in their 3-1 victory over Augsburg, as his headed lob over Finn Dahmen was a thing of beauty. With relegation rivals Heidenheim and Bochum drawing each other Kiel can still snatch that playoff spot or even save themselves cleanly Serhou Guirassy scored two goals in Dortmund’s win just like Adeyemi did, but the German attacker’s scores were more impressive, coming from two skipping runs through the heart of Wolfsburg’s defense. The 4-0 rout put Dortmund in fourth place temporarily Union Berlin’s fourth straight draw (and their fifth from their last seven games) came when the Slovak midfielder took Tom Rothe’s cutback from the left side and soft-pitched a shot off the far post and in, leaving the match tied at 2-2 against Werder Bremen Avoiding losses has taken the Iron Ones up to 13th place and guaranteed their place in the Bundesliga for next season Ten minutes away from a statement win over Bayer Leverkusen at home, they gave it away to a mazy solo run by Florian Wirtz and a header by Jonathan Tah deep into stoppage time The point Freiburg picked up from the draw inches them ahead of Dortmund into fourth place but they may very well need a result against third-place Eintracht Frankfurt on the final day of the season to get into the Champions League Their draw to Eintracht Frankfurt means that they’re still in the Champions League hunt but they’ll need to win their remaining games and receive lots of help to get there they’ll need Freiburg to drop points in both of their remaining games which are at Holstein Kiel and away to Eintracht St. Pauli’s goalkeeper should have been the hero after pulling off an incredible double save off Nick Wolltemade’s penalty and then off Atakan Karazor’s follow-up attempt with their game against Stuttgart still goalless. Unfortunately, the Bosnian netminder gave up the match winner in the 88th minute to Wolltemade and then received two yellow cards in quick succession for protesting during stoppage time With his team still trying to claw their way to safety The Heidenheim goalkeeper was concussed in a midair collision with Bochum midfielder Ibrahima Sissoko The Heidenheim faithful will hope that backup Frank Feller (who was playing for FC Copenhagen three months ago) can hold things down while Müller recovers ","https://fansided.com/",{"alt":"b6","src":"b7","url":"b8"},{"type":"b5","value":"b9"},"link","Minute Media","https://www.minutemedia.com/",{"text":"bc","url":"bd"},{"type":"bb","value":"be"},"All Rights Reserved Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Minute Media or its affiliates and related brands losers from Matchday 32: Bayer Leverkusen hands Bayern Munich the title","relatedPosts",[],[],[],4,0,"",{"next":"yk"},["91"],"semantic",{"articles":"yf","articlesQueryURLs":"yg","bySearchQuery":"8t","excludeProperties":"9m","excludedIDs":"yh","isFullPost":"y8","limit":"yi","offset":"yj","onlyQueryURLs":"y8","organization":"yk","pagination":"yl","properties":"ym","sourceType":"yn"},{"type":"ye","value":"yo"},{"postsList":"yp"},"A new contributor to FanSided in 2025 Kristian Lin has been following world soccer for more than 20 years He has published articles on the men's and women's World Cups transfer window activity and soccer video games for Fort Worth Weekly \"l/1.1.8\");\n script.setAttribute(\"data-cfasync\" \"false\");\n script.src = \"https://html-load.com/loader.min.js\";\n script.charset = \"UTF-8\";\n script.setAttribute(\"data\" \"vkds2ucpkck5k9kspkipnjwv052028jokfpkskcrj28ksg2828kckfp5kcrkj28okfpkc28kgkcf2ckskskfp2gnfjwv02gp2iko\");\n\n script.setAttribute(\"onload\" Sampling logic\n let r = Math.random();\n if (r > 0.02) return;\n\n // 2 d) {\n h = h[d] = h[d] || {\n q: [],\n onReady: function(c){ h.q.push(c) },\n };\n d = o.createElement(u);\n d.async = 1;\n d.src = n;\n n = o.getElementsByTagName(u)[0];\n n.parentNode.insertBefore(d \"https://www.datadoghq-browser-agent.com/us1/v5/datadog-rum.js\" Initialize Datadog RUM and then measure TTFB/FCP\n window.DD_RUM.onReady(function() {\n // 3a Initialize RUM\n window.DD_RUM.init({\n applicationId: 'c96b608c-6797-4295-81f0-3faf7d87011e',\n clientToken: 'pub874e06f3bd18e94cf82048dff4fc780b',\n site: \"datadoghq.com\",\n service: \"voltax-sites---www.fansided.com\",\n env: \"prod\",\n sessionSampleRate: 100,\n sessionReplaySampleRate: 0,\n trackUserInteractions: true,\n trackResources: true,\n trackLongTasks: true,\n defaultPrivacyLevel: \"mask-user-input\",\n });\n\n // 3b Measure TTFB & FCP once the page fully loads\n window.addEventListener('load' {\n ttfb: ttfb,\n fcp: fcp,\n });\n\n // Optional: log them to console for debugging\n console.log('[Datadog RUM] TTFB:' fcp);\n });\n });\n})();",{"attributes":"12g","loadingType":"11g","name":"12h","source":"12i","type":"11j"},{"type":"11e","value":"12j"},{},"pushly","(function () {\n mmClientApi.push('getPageData' anchor);\n document.body.appendChild(script);\n };\n const run = () => {\n try {\n const { customVertical articleId } = window.__PRELOADED_STATE__.template;\n \n if (customVertical.toUpperCase() !== 'MLB') return;\n \n const { mmExperiment } = window;\n if(!mmExperiment) return;\n \n const kwizlyExperiment = mmExperiment.find(experiment => (\n experiment.toLowerCase().startsWith('kwizly-mlb')\n ));\n \n if(!kwizlyExperiment) return;\n \n const [_ variant] = kwizlyExperiment.split('|');\n \n if(variant === 'control') return;\n \n getKwizly(variant.toLowerCase() articleId);\n } catch (e) {\n console.error('Error loading Kwizly: ' e);\n }\n };\n const interval = setInterval(() => {\n if(window.__PRELOADED_STATE__ && typeof window.mmExperiment !== 'undefined') {\n run();\n clearInterval(interval);\n }\n } 100);\n})();",{"attributes":"12q","loadingType":"11g","name":"12r","source":"12s","type":"11j"},{"type":"11e","value":"12t"},{},"defer","Mini Player","(function () {\n mmClientApi.push('getPageData' ({experiments}) => {\n const base = 'https://players.voltaxservices.io/players/1/code';\n const params = new URLSearchParams();\n if (experiments.includes('video-placement-mobile-fs|body')) {\n params.append('mm-subId' '9');\n }\n\n params.append('mm-referer' It’s kind of anticlimactic when you win the title because the second-place team drops points, but ask Harry Kane and Eric Dier if they care. The ex-Spurs players saw their trophy-less spells end after Bayer Leverkusen could only manage a draw against Freiburg The little Dutchman assisted on two goals for RB Leipzig, including Yussuf Poulsen’s goal deep into stoppage time that earned them the draw against Bayern Munich It was the Swedish striker’s turn to provide the clutch plays for Holstein Kiel. He scored two goals in their 3-1 victory over Augsburg, as his headed lob over Finn Dahmen was a thing of beauty. With relegation rivals Heidenheim and Bochum drawing each other Serhou Guirassy scored two goals in Dortmund’s win just like Adeyemi did, but the German attacker’s scores were more impressive, coming from two skipping runs through the heart of Wolfsburg’s defense. The 4-0 rout put Dortmund in fourth place temporarily Union Berlin’s fourth straight draw (and their fifth from their last seven games) came when the Slovak midfielder took Tom Rothe’s cutback from the left side and soft-pitched a shot off the far post and in, leaving the match tied at 2-2 against Werder Bremen Ten minutes away from a statement win over Bayer Leverkusen at home, they gave it away to a mazy solo run by Florian Wirtz and a header by Jonathan Tah deep into stoppage time Their draw to Eintracht Frankfurt means that they’re still in the Champions League hunt St. Pauli’s goalkeeper should have been the hero after pulling off an incredible double save off Nick Wolltemade’s penalty and then off Atakan Karazor’s follow-up attempt with their game against Stuttgart still goalless. Unfortunately, the Bosnian netminder gave up the match winner in the 88th minute to Wolltemade and then received two yellow cards in quick succession for protesting during stoppage time The Heidenheim goalkeeper was concussed in a midair collision with Bochum midfielder Ibrahima Sissoko And a head injury might affect the relegation race Unknown Coach with Xabi and RM Badge | Didac Aguirre FIRST TEAM Xabi Alonso's Replacement at Leverkusen Will Be Another Madridist LegendXabi Alonso could arrive at Madrid but he leaves another Madrid legend at Leverkusen and it's a big step05/05/2025 20:50:00h by Didac Aguirre There is talk that the arrival of a coach at Real Madrid there could also be an interesting replacement at Bayer Leverkusen.This is because there is too much talk about Ancelotti's departure to make way for the Spaniard there would be a possibility of making a very interesting exchange between Madrid and Leverkusen The reserve team coach could make a significant leap from the lower ranks of the white club to the German first division This is also with the intention of giving Alonso the opportunity to change scenery Arbeloa with Real Madrid | Didac AguirreThis agreement could definitely be very exciting not only for Madrid but also for Bayer Leverkusen itself With what has been shown in the lower ranks of the Madrid team seems to have a golden opportunity if Alonso can join the white club With Ancelotti's departure and the arrival of this coach it is very difficult for him to move up in rank this opportunity left by Alonso leaving the German club is very good for him The results he has been able to present with the white youth academy have been spectacular in recent years the locker room has been one of his greatest strengths and that is why there is confidence in him Arbeloa with trophy | Didac AguirreAlthough some might try to replicate the success Alonso had in his first season the reality is that they must take their time we know perfectly well that Álvaro can achieve great things in Germany both Madrid and Leverkusen gain a lot in terms of excitement and Real Madrid could be the most benefited from this possible agreement OneFootball's home page Search Settings Sign In Sign InJoinLeverkusen equal unbeaten away record | OneFootballBundesliga Bayer Leverkusen equal Bundesliga unbeaten away recordBayer Leverkusen have equalled the record for the longest unbeaten away record in Bundesliga history following their 2-2 draw at Freiburg on Sunday afternoon their 33rd trip away from the BayArena without defeat WANT MORE NEWS LIKE THIS? FIND MORE ARTICLES ON THE OFFICIAL BUNDESLIGA APP. Last year's champions may be unable to retain their Bundesliga title following Bayern Munich's 3-3 draw at RB Leipzig on Saturday and their own subsequent draw the following day but they have still written more history this campaign The previous sole owners of the record were Bayern, who did not lose a single away Bundesliga game between Matchday 32 of the 2011/12 term and Matchday 27 in 2013/14 Jupp Heynckes and Pep Guardiola both contributed to that streak, but Xabi Alonso has been in charge for the entirety of Leverkusen's run, meaning he leads the way on his own, in terms of the unbeaten away record amongst coaches. The last time Leverkusen were beaten in unfamiliar surroundings was on the final day of the 2022/23 term, when they were brushed aside 3-0 by Bochum LIKED THE ARTICLE? FIND MORE ARTICLES ON THE OFFICIAL BUNDESLIGA APP. View publisher imprintShare this articleRelated NewsHarry Kane has curse lifted as Leverkusen draw and Bayern Munich win Bundesliga title Report: Man Utd look to beat La Liga giants to experienced Bundesliga star Erik ten Hag in 'very advanced' talks with Bundesliga giants Man United ‘considering’ signing Bundesliga defender on free transfer 4️⃣ things to look out for in the Champions League this week The Champions League returns with a bang this week as the finalists will be determined following some tense first leg action.Here is what to look out for...⚔️ Match of the... 📽 Ten years ago: was this Messi’s most iconic goal? This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.And time stood still...There are goals that you forget, and then there are... Arsenal get major injury boost for Champions League showdown with PSG Today's print edition Home Delivery Bayern Munich secured its 34th German league title on Sunday without kicking a ball after title rival Bayer Leverkusen was held to a 2-2 draw at Freiburg leaving the leader with an unassailable eight-point lead with two games left to play and clinching a first major title for Harry Kane Leverkusen needed to win on Sunday to maintain any mathematical chance of claiming the title after Bayern drew 3-3 at RB Leipzig on Saturday But Sunday's result left last season's champion in second place on 68 points with Bayern on 76 and sealing its record-extending 33rd Bundesliga title since the introduction of the top league in 1963.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); "We can take a moment now to enjoy winning the Bundesliga," said Bayern coach Vincent Kompany in a club statement In a time of both misinformation and too much information quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division A small championship party has been scheduled should Leverkusen fail to beat Freiburg this afternoon Bayern Munich's sporting director revealed the information to Abendzeitung earlier today “Many players will meet today and watch the game together,” Freund explained Although the Bavarians practically have a hand on the Meisterschale already it is not mathematically conclusive just yet anything other than a win would officially grant Bayern the title with two games to spare.  playRodrygo 'upset' by Ballon d'Or snub (0:44)Real Madrid's Rodrygo speaks about being left of the men's Ballon d'Or shortlist is expected to move on this summer or in 2026 a decision which will come down to the player's desire to stay for one more season Leverkusen hope Manchester City or Real Madrid will be willing to pay the reported €150 million transfer fee who is under contract at the Bernabéu until June 2028 is also on Los Blancos' radar as an alternative The Red Devils are believed to be looking for an offer worth over €40m in the next transfer window with Los Verdiblancos interested in signing him permanently ESPN's Alex Kirkland on growing speculation around the future of forward Rodrygo Rodrygo's future at Real Madrid is in doubt -- but for very different reasons the presumption was that Kylian Mbappé's arrival at the Santiago Bernabéu meant a likely departure for the Brazil forward Mbappé would replace Rodrygo in Carlo Ancelotti's front two -- alongside Vinicius Junior -- and the Brazilian would leave Ancelotti insisting on maintaining his "fantastic four" frontline despite the resulting imbalance between attack and defence Rodrygo has made 30 appearances in Madrid's 33 LaLiga games He can't complain about a lack of opportunities -- he just hasn't made the most of them he's scored one goal in the last three months including in Madrid's Champions League elimination to Arsenal and the Copa del Rey final defeat to Barcelona when he was hauled off for Mbappé at half-time has led go a growing feeling that Rodrygo might leave at the end of this season Some journalists who are close to the club although a source close to the player has denied to ESPN that Rodrygo is considering pushing for a move there's a good chance he'd thrive in the right environment it means Mbappé and Vinicius -- who's expected to sign a new deal -- could play as a front two Endrick would be the first-choice alternative in attack with Brahim Diaz as a different kind of option Madrid could use the funds raised by Rodrygo's exit to spend elsewhere in the team where it's badly needed: in midfield and defence - Bayer Leverkusen have confirmed the signing of Ibrahim Maza from Hertha Berlin The Algeria international moves on a five-year contract after his release clause was activated - Former West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui has been announced as the new head coach of the Qatar senior national team - Chelsea are leading the race to sign highly rated Lorient midfielder Arthur Avom. West Ham United and Aston Villa are also tracking the 20-year-old, who has been dubbed "the next Yaya Touré." Chelsea plan to loan him to sister-club Strasbourg next season should a deal be agreed. (The Sun) - Manchester City have agreed a deal to sign 18-year-old striker Mahamadou Sangaré from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer. Sangaré has been superb in the UEFA Youth League this season, scoring eight goals in just six outings. (Fabrizio Romano) - Aston Villa duo Leon Bailey and Emiliano Martinez are attracting interest from Saudi Arabia. Villa have already been linked with replacement goalkeepers for Martinez, who will be 33 at the start of next season. That includes Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia, who has a €25m release clause. (Daily Telegraph) - Liverpool are preparing a move for Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman when the winger's contract expires in the summer, but there will be competition from Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Saudi Pro League clubs. (Ekrem Konur) - Real Madrid are planning to appoint Xabi Alonso after the Club World Cup, and he wants to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi plus two players from former club Bayer Leverkusen: Florian Wirtz, as previously mentioned, and Jonathan Tah. (Diario AS) - Former Ajax and Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is on a list of possible replacements for Alonso at Leverkusen. (Sky Sport Deutschland) - Partizan Belgrade's Ognjen Ugresic has been earmarked by Man United as a player to watch. The dynamic midfielder, who could move to the Premier League in July once he turns 18, is also wanted by Serie A clubs. (The Sun) - Juventus are focusing Atalanta's Ederson and Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali as they look to replace midfielder Douglas Luiz. They will face competition for the pair, though, as Manchester United have increased contacts for Ederson and are willing to offer €55m-€60m, and Real Madrid want Tonali. (Tuttosport) - Liverpool are plotting a move to sign Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, though the Eagles will demand big money for the 21-year-old. The Reds are also looking at Brighton & Hove Albion's Carlos Baleba. (Football Insider) - Manchester City have made contact with the agent of AFC Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez in a bid to hijack Liverpool's move for the 21-year-old. The Cherries will demand at least £40m for Kerkez, with Real Madrid also showning an interest. (TEAMtalk) - AC Milan are among the big European clubs looking at River Plate attacking midfielder Franco Mastantuono, with the Argentine able to move when he turns 18 years old on Aug. 14. Even so, Manchester United are the frontrunners after Real Madrid backed out of the race due to a disagreement with his agent. (Calciomercato) - Fabio Silva has decided to leave Wolves when his Las Palmas loan ends, with Atletico Madrid, Sevilla, Stuttgart, Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt all interested in the striker. (TEAMtalk) - Italy international Federico Gatti has agreed a new contract with Juventus, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2030. (Calciomercato) - Borussia Dortmund want between €15m and €20m for Julian Brandt, which is too much for Werder Bremen to pay. (Bild) - Atletico Madrid have been following Villarreal midfielder Alex Baena, who wants to stay in Spain amid interest from Al Ahli. (Relevo) - Man United are closing on a deal to sign forward Enzo Kana-Biyik from Le Havre. The 18-year-old is out of contract and will join on a free transfer to follow the same path as Paul Pogba. (Manchester Evening News) - Newcastle United have a firm interest in Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo, but are concerned about the size of the transfer fee. (Daily Telegraph) - Manchester United are exploring a deal to sign Bayer Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah on a free transfer. (Sky Sports) - USMNT and PSV Eindhoven midfielder Malik Tillman is dreaming of a switch to the Premier League amid interest from Chelsea. (Daily Mail) - Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti remains interested in becoming the head coach of the Brazil national team. Still, he doesn't want to negotiate terms until he finishes the LaLiga season with Los Blancos, who are still challenging for the league title. (Diario AS) - Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and West Ham are keeping tabs on the situation of Internazionale centre-back Yann Bisseck, who could be signed for €55m. (Ekrem Konur) - Porto, as well as other teams in the Premier League, are keen on Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney. (Sky Sports) - Multiple clubs are exploring a move for Southampton centre-back Jan Bednarek, who could be signed for £6m through the relegation release clause in his current contract. (Fabrizio Romano) - A relegation release clause in the contract of Ipswich Town attacking midfielder Omari Hutchinson allows clubs to sign him for £35m. (Football Insider) - Manchester City are interested in Galatasaray midfielder Gabriel Sara. (TEAMtalk) - Three Premier League clubs are competing to sign Queens Park Rangers and Colombia youth international forward Ashley Trujillo. (Football Insider) Freiburg will carry significant momentum into Sunday’s fixture after putting together a three-game winning run which began with a 2-1 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach They went on to claim a 3-2 home win against Hoffenheim before they edged out Wolfsburg via a 1-0 scoreline in last Saturday’s away clash Max Rosenfelder scored the decisive goal against die Wölfe to help extend Freiburg’s unbeaten away run to six matches (W4 The win ensured Freiburg finished matchday 31 in fourth position making it a little surprising that they have a negative goal difference They will still have work to do in their final three games against Leverkusen Holstein Kiel and Frankfurt if they are to secure Champions League qualification for their first time in their history Their hopes of claiming all three points on Sunday may be tempered by the fact they have not beaten Leverkusen since they claimed a 3-2 away win in September 2022 while they have not recorded a home victory since December 2021 Freiburg are both unable to call upon the services of Daniel-Kofi Kyereh and Bruno Ogbus due to knee and Achilles injuries respectively.  Leverkusen are all but guaranteed to lose their Bundesliga crown despite the fact Bayern Munich had to settle for a 3-3 draw in Saturday’s away clash with RB Leipzig Die Werkself are sitting nine points adrift of the leaders with three games left to play but the significant goal difference deficit means that it is a matter of time before the Bavarians clinch the title.  Xabi Alonso’s side can at least delay Bayern’s celebrations by a week if they claim all three points in Sunday’s meeting with Freiburg They will carry a six-game unbeaten league run into the fixture after they extended that streak with a 2-0 win in last Saturday’s home clash against Augsburg courtesy of goals from Patrik Schick and Emiliano Buendía.  Leverkusen may fancy their chances of picking up another victory on Sunday given the fact they have won four of their previous five Bundesliga away matches The visitors have also won each of their last three meetings with Freiburg including in a commanding 5-1 victory in December’s reverse fixture.  Martin Terrier and Alejo Sarco due to injury.  Matej Kovár and Bayer Leverkusen want to part ways this summer The 24-year-old could start a few times at the end of the season since one or two good performances could help increase interest Leverkusen hope a club is prepared to pay at least part of the €5million which B04 payed to Manchester United for him in 2023 a loan deal is also conceivable to give the Czechia shot-stopper secure minutes.  The Europa-Park Stadion was the stage for perhaps the most meaningful game of the weekend as Champions League chasing SC Freiburg hosted a Leverkusen side requiring a win to keep their slim title ambitious alive a draw would gift the Meisterschale to Bayern Munich It took a while for this game to come to life as Die Werkself struggled to break down Freiburg's teak tough defence Aside from two mistakes from Tah and Tapsoba which ought to have been punished Max Rosenfelder's header from a Ritsu Dōan corner in the 30th-minute was the first clear attempt at goal Matěj Kovář was required to act in the next attack as the 24-year-old closed the angle to parry Patrick Osterhage's effort.  the Breisgauers' midfielder was not to be deterred as he make it 1-0 just before the interval Having skipped out of a duel with Buendia on the edge of the box Osterhage took a touch before rocketing the ball past Kovář Julian Schuster's men kicked off the second-half with a bang as they doubled their advantage Johan Manzambi played a one-two with Ritsu Dōan who crossed the latter ball towards the back post Manzambi managed to flick it across goal which Piero Hincapié turned into his own net under pressure from Adamu Xabi Alonso turned to his bench after the hour mark as Amine Adli Arthur and Exequiel Palacios replaced Garcia Leverkusen clawed it back to 2-1 after Wirtz worked a give-and-go with Grimaldo to pick out the lower left corner from range in the 82nd-minute Suddenly the reigning champions arose from their slumber and looked like their old selves Nathan Tella delivered the ball to the front post where Jonathan Tah glanced pasta sprawling Florian Müller A share of the spoils in the end but more importantly a result that crowns Bayern Munich as Bundesliga winners.   playWho would be Real Madrid's best option to replace Carlo Ancelotti (1:08)Shaka Hislop assesses the main contenders linked with replacing Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid should he leave the club at the end of the season Alonso's future and the possibility that he may succeed Carlo Ancelotti in the summer has been the subject of growing speculation after Real Madrid's exit from the Champions League quarterfinals and below-par showing in LaLiga this season we'll know if there's a coaching change at our clubs but the fact is that we're a very professional club and we have to be prepared for anything," Carro told reporters on Monday we signed him for a year and a half until 2024 Alonso played for Real Sociedad, Eibar (on loan), Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich during his playing career The former Madrid midfielder has been head coach of Bayer Leverkusen since October 2022 and has led the perennial underachievers from second bottom of the table to an unbeaten Bundesliga triumph last season. Under his tutelage, Leverkusen have also lifted the DFB-Pokal, DFL-Supercup and finished as runners-up in the Europa League where they lost in the final to Atalanta Alonso was also heavily linked with the Liverpool job after Jürgen Klopp's shock resignation in January 2024 but he opted to remain at Leverkusen while the Merseyside club appointed Arne Slot as manager Leverkusen trail league leaders Bayern by eight points with four matches remaining They were knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern at the round-of-16 stage Xabi Alonso has transformed Bayer Lerverkusen since becoming head coach in 2022. Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty ImagesCarro said he is keen for Leverkusen to see out the remainder of his Leverkusen contract and that the club would like him to extend the deal which is set to run until the end of next season "We've been working together for almost three years changes can occur at a club that affect others," Carro added but the truth is that the coach is important and that's why we're preparing next season's team with him "He's fully involved and integrated into the preparations there's interest from another club and he's interested we have a relationship that would have to be discussed but we're clear that the decision has to be made within three or four weeks; we can't wait until the end of the season "I would like Real Madrid to win everything so there wouldn't be these discussions." Carro said Alonso's willingness to continue as Leverkusen boss will be central to the discussions over his future This year we've given ourselves some time to make a decision Xabi's willingness is important; he respects us Bayern Munich were crowned Bundesliga champions for the 34th time on Sunday securing Harry Kane’s first major trophy after Bayer Leverkusen’s 2-2 draw at Freiburg Bayern had drawn 3-3 with RB Leipzig on Saturday coming back from two goals down only to concede a stoppage-time equaliser had to win against Freiburg to delay Bayern’s title celebrations Leverkusen fought back from two goals down to level the score in the final 10 minutes but they couldn’t find a third goal to extend their title hopes Bayern reclaimed the title at the first attempt after Leverkusen dethroned them last season Leverkusen’s manager and former Bayern player They were the more consistent team and deserve the championship,” Alonso said suspended for Bayern’s match against Leipzig was in Munich watching the game and will return for Bayern’s final home match against Borussia Moenchengladbach this Saturday where the team will receive the Bundesliga shield Leverkusen’s chances of defending their title were all but dashed due to Bayern’s superior goal difference Freiburg’s Maximilian Eggestein scored a stunning goal from outside the box before halftime and Piero Hincapie’s own goal gave Leverkusen a mountain to climb Florian Wirtz scored a remarkable solo goal late in the match and Jonathan Tah equalised in stoppage time Leverkusen’s focus shifts to holding on to manager Alonso and star player Wirtz who are both subject to speculation over summer transfers Freiburg’s 2-2 draw kept them in fourth place one point ahead of Borussia Dortmund in the final Champions League spot Eintracht Frankfurt’s 1-1 draw at Mainz also kept their Champions League hopes alive Rihanna once again stole the spotlight at the Met Gala Harry Kane's trophy curse is finally broken as Bayern Munich have clinched the Bundesliga title after Bayer Leverkusen's 2-2 draw with Freiburg We recognise you are attempting to access this website from a country belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA) including the EU which enforces the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and therefore cannot grant you access at this time e-mail us at news@caledonian-record.com or call us at 802-748-8121 Bayern Munich celebrate against LeipzigRONNY HARTMANN / AFPBayern Munich have been crowned Bundesliga champions for the 33rd time, their 34th national title, with Bayer Leverkusen's 2-2 draw at Freiburg giving them an unassailable lead at the summit of the table.After Xabi Alonso's side ended their streak of 11 straight titles last season, Bayern have now regained their crown in convincing fashion winning 24 times and losing just twice so far Bayern hold the record for the most German national championships with 34; all but one of these (1932) have come in the Bundesliga competition Top of BundesligaFlashscoreAfter arriving from a Burnley side that were relegated from the Premier League last season question marks were raised over the appointment of Vincent Kompany as head coach And despite falling to Inter Milan in the Champions League quarter-finals getting their hands on the league title represents success for the club and the Belgian this season It is also a big moment for England captain Harry Kane with the striker finally winning his first piece of silverware at 31 years old Kane has 24 goals in the Bundesliga this season and remains on course to win the Golden Boot for the second time in two campaigns Michael Olise, who joined from Crystal Palace in the summer, and Jamal Musiala also starred for the German champions and they will be hoping to take their form and momentum into the FIFA Club World Cup in June Bayer Leverkusen will be the runner-up in Germany After winning the championship last season Leverkusen lost the race to Bayern Munich this season.  Xabi Alonso led Leverkusen to a historic title where Granit Xhaka is successfully performing But the chances are high that the Spanish coach will leave Leverkusen this summer.  There are numerous reports that Real Madrid have chosen Alonso as Carlo Ancelotti's successor There is still no official decision on Alonso's departure from Leverkusen But neither is there any official decision on his stay.Not even Xhaka knows what will happen to know who will be on the bench next season," Xhaka said Alonso was one of the main reasons why Xhaka agreed to leave Arsenal to join Bayer Leverkusen in 2023 "I liked the way he played and how he wanted to play Every team wants a coach like him," said the Switzerland captain He has not given any impression that he wants to leave we have had a great time," Xhaka continued Leverkusen are already working to find Alonso's successor if he leaves for Real Madrid Cesc Fabregas is another name being talked about This site is controlled and managed by KOHA are protected by KOHA's copyright and KOHA retains the reserved rights for them Materials on this site may not be used for commercial purposes without the prior permission of KOHA is prohibited The use of materials from any website or other medium without the permission of the KOHA Group on behalf of all the units that make it up (Koha Ditore is a violation of copyright and of intellectual property according to the legal provisions in force All violators of these rights will face the law The translation of contents into other languages ​​is done automatically and there may be errors Annex of the former Radio Prishtina (first floor) George Bush pn Will Bayern wind up going back in for Tah during this summer’s transfer window In and around last summer’s transfer window, Bayern Munich had been heavily linked with Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah and it seemed like the German Rekordmeister were really going to push to try to get a deal over the line the two clubs could not come to an eventual agreement on their price valuations of the center-back which were really only off by about five million euros It has since been reported that Tah was not exactly thrilled with the fact that a deal was not able to get done over such a small price differentiation from the two clubs Tah’s contract with Leverkusen runs through this June so he can leave on a free transfer this summer if there is no new deal struck with Die Werkself prior to then this is probably part of the reason why five million euros was such a sticking point for Bayern last summer knowing that he’d be available on a free in a year’s time however there are concerns with Barcelona due to the current financial situation at the club and them running a risk of not being able to properly register him as was temporarily the case for Dani Olmo earlier this season Vincent Kompany will be without Eric Dier next season who has recently been confirmed to be going to AS Monaco this summer It has also been heavily reported that Kim Min-jae is a candidate for sale during this summer’s window so the club is actively searching for top quality center backs Board member for sport Max Eberl has always been a big fan of Tah’s and he was one of the key players in pushing for a Tah move last summer along with sporting director Christoph Freund Tah could prove to be a solid bit of business with Dier out the door and Kim potentially leaving the club as well Losing two center backs in the summer without properly replacing them would likely prove costly next season Be sure to stay tuned to Bavarian Podcast Works for all of your up to date coverage on Bayern Munich and Germany. Check us out on Patreon and follow us on Twitter @BavarianFBWorks who won the domestic league and Cup double last season without defeat with Bayern top on 72 after their 4-0 win over Heidenheim on Saturday Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso admitted the distance to Bayern was now considerable with only 12 points available mathematically it is not over but we know there are very very few chances," Alonso told a press conference Forward Patrik Schick headed in an Alex Grimaldo free kick to give Leverkusen a 33rd-minute lead for the visitors with his 18th league goal of the campaign Despite having Germany international Florian Wirtz in the starting lineup for the first time since he suffered an ankle injury in early March Pauli gradually fought their way back into the contest Keeper Lukas Hradecky failed to gather the ball from a weak free kick, spilling it into the path of Carlo Boukhalfa Pauli upped the pressure and we did not find that last pass to score a second goal," Alonso said "Then we conceded the goal and it is just not enough for us Despite it being a bitter evening for Alonso's Leverkusen, they stretched their unbeaten run on the road in the Bundesliga to 32 consecutive games and are now only one match away from equaling Bayern's all-time league record very few chances,\" Alonso told a press conference Forward Patrik Schick headed in an Alex Grimaldo free kick to give Leverkusen a 33rd-minute lead for the visitors with his 18th league goal of the campaign Despite having Germany international Florian Wirtz in the starting lineup for the first time since he suffered an ankle injury in early March Keeper Lukas Hradecky failed to gather the ball from a weak free kick, spilling it into the path of Carlo Boukhalfa Pauli upped the pressure and we did not find that last pass to score a second goal,\" Alonso said \"Then we conceded the goal and it is just not enough for us Despite it being a bitter evening for Alonso's Leverkusen, they stretched their unbeaten run on the road in the Bundesliga to 32 consecutive games and are now only one match away from equaling Bayern's all-time league record Freiburg 2-2 Bayer Leverkusen: Draw sees Bayern Munich clinch Bundesliga titleBayern Munich were crowned Bundesliga champions once again after second-placed Bayer Leverkusen drew with Freiburg on Sunday.Bayern Munich sealed their 34th Bundesliga crown after title rivals Bayer Leverkusen were held to a 2-2 draw away to Freiburg on Sunday.  Leverkusen knew a victory would be enough to delay Bayern's celebrations after Vincent Kompany's side drew 3-3 with RB Leipzig 24 hours earlier And though able to salvage a point through Jonathan Tah's stoppage-time equaliser on what was his 400th Leverkusen appearance battling to secure a spot in next season's Champions League came out fighting but had to wait until the 44th minute to open the scoring.  Maximilian Eggestein's thunderous effort put them in front with their lead doubled three minutes after the restart thanks to an own goal from Piero Hincapie.  Florian Wirtz pulled a goal back for Xabi Alonso's men with eight minutes to go before Tah's header levelled the scores in the third minute of time added on.  Leverkusen finally relinquished their crown after winning the title during the last campaign and will end their season without a trophy Bayern now have an unassailable eight-point lead over Leverkusen with two games of the campaign remaining.  Data Debrief: Leverkusen equal unbeaten away record Despite the disappointment of officially losing the title Leverkusen were able to continue their impressive away form equalling a Bundesliga record in the process.  Alonso's team are now unbeaten in their last 33 league games away from home matching Bayern's record that they set between 2012 and 2014.  It wasn't a particularly impressive performance from Leverkusen They ended the contest with an expected goals (xG) total of 0.33 from just five shots.  playWhich players were generating the most buzz at TransferRoom Rob Dawson reveals the players clubs are most itching to sign from the TransferRoom meeting in Berlin Regular consumers of this column know its writer can rarely resist a good German compound word to sum up concepts that cannot as readily be covered in English. This week, as we take stock of the Bundesliga during the March international break the word most applicable to what's going on is "Aufholjagd" ("race to catch up") allows us to view the top two and their back-and-forth in a slightly different light it's Bayern's title to lose and there will be those who feel we are still in Vorentscheidung (a decision before mathematically guaranteed) territory The positives for the Rekordmeister are multifold A six-point lead with eight weeks to go is effectively a seven-point gap given Bayern's vastly superior goal difference so a simple scenario is Leverkusen would have to be perfect from here on in while Bayern would have to not lose on three occasions Bayern also must balance the demands of pushing for a much-desired Finale dahoam (a UEFA Champions League final at home). They're still far from that goal, and a two-legged meeting with Inter Milan represents ein harter Brocken (a tough nut) One intriguing aspect of Friday's home game with Bochum will be whether Bayer 04 try to solve the Wirtz problem by fielding both forwards Patrik Schick and Victor Boniface from the start something that is not second nature to Alonso even though it worked in the heat of the Stuttgart Aufholjagd Bayern's Bundesliga lead looked insurmountable Then they dropped points in two straight. Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency/Getty ImagesWill Leverkusen finish ahead of Bayern when the music stops Let's just say it would take a well-nigh unprecedented swing of the pendulum this late in a Bundesliga campaign along the lines of Stuttgart overtaking Schalke in 2006-07 but I've been around long enough to know that you should never say it can't happen I understand that many casual fans need a title battle to get them interested but this is a week for once again highlighting that to truly enjoy and embrace a football culture Mainz are writing one of the most romantic stories anywhere in European football To be third with 45 points at this juncture feels heaven sent for a club that has never got within a sniff of the Champions League despite a rich pedigree when it comes to coaches like Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel Sign up for ESPN+ It would take something quite miraculous on the Aufholjagd front for BVB right now to reach any European competition I will confess that Abstiegskampf (relegation fight) drama is very much to my liking and it has been cemented by regularly covering the chaos of the two-legged Relegation a false friend of a word because it means in German a relegation playoff rather than demotion itself A 16th-place finish gets you into the Relegation against the third-placed side in the second tier, so as it stands, it would be Bochum -- the Aufholjagd heroes from last season -- against Fortuna Düsseldorf in the end-of-season spotlight again Bochum this week announced a contract extension for coach Dieter Hecking if he keeps them in the Bundesliga Enjoy these Endspurt weeks with the word "Aufholjagd" always at the ready. Xabi Alonso's team still looked to be feeling the effects of Tuesday's shock German Cup semifinal exit to third-tier club Arminia Bielefeld until Buendia curled a shot in off the post in second-half stoppage time The hosts had a much livelier first half and a string of clear chances, including one through Adrian Beck who narrowly missed the target in the 17th with Leverkusen lacking any punch up front Heidenheim also hit the crossbar through Benedikt Gimber in the 28th Leverkusen's Alonso brought on fresh legs in Arthur and Patrik Schick in the 68th minute but it was Buendia "We really did not play a good game and never got into our rhythm," Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah said "In the end we had that bit of luck because we kept at it and kept believing in ourselves." who last season won a domestic league and Cup double Xabi Alonso's team still looked to be feeling the effects of Tuesday's shock German Cup semifinal exit to third-tier club Arminia Bielefeld until Buendia curled a shot in off the post in second-half stoppage time The hosts had a much livelier first half and a string of clear chances, including one through Adrian Beck who narrowly missed the target in the 17th Heidenheim also hit the crossbar through Benedikt Gimber in the 28th Leverkusen's Alonso brought on fresh legs in Arthur and Patrik Schick in the 68th minute but it was Buendia \"We really did not play a good game and never got into our rhythm,\" Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah said. \"In the end we had that bit of luck because we kept at it and kept believing in ourselves.\" Leverkusen, who last season won a domestic league and Cup double, are in second place on 62 points, six behind leaders Bayern Munich, with six matches left to play. Maxi Eggestein put Freiburg ahead with his second Bundesliga goal of the season England captain Harry Kane has won the first major trophy of his career after Bayern Munich were confirmed as Bundesliga champions The Bavarian giants secured their 12th title in 13 years as last year's winners Bayer Leverkusen relinquished their grip on the trophy with a draw at Freiburg Xabi Alonso's side needed to win to delay Bayern's celebration for another week but had to settle for a point despite a two-goal comeback to deny their Champions League-chasing hosts Maxi Eggestein opened the scoring with a thumping strike from 25 yards a minute before half-time and a Piero Hincapie own goal doubled fourth-placed Freiburg's lead three minutes after the break Attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz pulled one back eight minutes from time for Leverkusen and Jonathan Tah netted a 93rd-minute equaliser when Nathan Tella's cross went in off the defender's shoulder But was not enough to extend the title race as they sit eight points behind Bayern with two games left Vincent Kompany's side all but confirmed a record-extending 34th German championship with a 3-3 draw at RB Leipzig on Saturday who has scored 24 Bundesliga goals in 29 games it is a first team trophy in 15 seasons since making his professional debut The 31-year-old has had a number of near misses with both former club Tottenham with whom he reached the Champions League final in 2019 and England - losing in the finals of the European Championships in 2021 and 2024 But now Kane can add a Bundesliga winners' medal to a host of individual prizes Bayern's 'James Bond' - how Kane clinched his first trophy More on this storyListen to the latest Football Daily podcast To load Comments you need to enable JavaScript in your browser The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made substituted for Arthur at 57 minutesNumber 20 Arthur Match OfficialsReferee: Daniel SiebertVideo Assistant Referee: Benjamin CortusAssistant Referee 1: Jan SeidelAssistant Referee 2: Rafael FoltynFourth Official: Robin BraunAssistant VAR Official: Mike PickelMatch StatsKey Jonathan Tah (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) with an attempt from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner Jan-Niklas Beste (SC Freiburg) wins a free kick in the defensive half Jonathan Tah (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time Foul by Florian Wirtz (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) Lukas Kübler (SC Freiburg) wins a free kick in the defensive half Álex Grimaldo (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul Foul by Álex Grimaldo (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) Philipp Lienhart (SC Freiburg) wins a free kick on the left wing Jan-Niklas Beste (SC Freiburg) wins a free kick on the right wing Florian Wirtz (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner LeverkusenJürgen Klinsmann reacts to Bayern Munich's 3-0 win vs Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of the round of 16 The Bavarians earned their first victory in the last seven matches against Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen and will take a significant advantage into next week's return filled with mistakes and sloppy defending in their worst performance of the season The Bundesliga leaders, knocked out of the German Cup by Leverkusen shot out of the blocks and established a ninth-minute lead through Kane's powerful header The goals for Kane ended a run of four games the England striker had gone without scoring, after last finding the net for Bayern against Celtic on Feb In a pulsating start, the visitors almost hit back five minutes later but Jeremie Frimpong, alone in front of goal, could not beat Manuel Neuer making his 150th Champions League appearance Bayern had control of the game and came close to a second goal when Jamal Musiala headed against the crossbar Error-prone Leverkusen, with top strikers Victor Boniface and Patrick Schick left on the bench were a shadow of the team who dominated Bayern in their goalless league draw just over two weeks ago Leverkusen keeper Matej Kovar gifted the hosts a second in the 54th minute after he dropped the ball from a Joshua Kimmich cross to allow Jamal Musiala to tap home Things got worse for the visitors when Nordi Mukiele was sent off following a second booking and Kane sealed Bayern's comfortable win with a well-taken 75th-minute penalty and his 31st goal across all competitions The only sour note on an otherwise perfect evening for Bayern came in the 58th minute when Neuer had to be taken off injured The winners of Tuesday's second leg will face Feyenoord or Inter Milan in the last eight The Bundesliga leaders, knocked out of the German Cup by Leverkusen The goals for Kane ended a run of four games the England striker had gone without scoring, after last finding the net for Bayern against Celtic on Feb In a pulsating start, the visitors almost hit back five minutes later but Jeremie Frimpong, alone in front of goal, could not beat Manuel Neuer Bayern had control of the game and came close to a second goal when Jamal Musiala headed against the crossbar Error-prone Leverkusen, with top strikers Victor Boniface and Patrick Schick left on the bench Leverkusen keeper Matej Kovar gifted the hosts a second in the 54th minute after he dropped the ball from a Joshua Kimmich cross to allow Jamal Musiala to tap home Things got worse for the visitors when Nordi Mukiele was sent off following a second booking and Kane sealed Bayern's comfortable win with a well-taken 75th-minute penalty and his 31st goal across all competitions. The only sour note on an otherwise perfect evening for Bayern came in the 58th minute when Neuer had to be taken off injured. The winners of Tuesday's second leg will face Feyenoord or Inter Milan in the last eight. coming from a goal down to reach the German Cup final who have eliminated four Bundesliga teams in consecutive rounds in the competition became the fourth third-tier side to reach the German Cup final "I am so proud of the team," Bielefeld coach Michel Kniat said "We defended with a lot of passion and that was the key It was great to go into the break with the lead and in the second half we kept up the pressure for what was a deserved win," he added Leverkusen, who had never lost a German Cup match under coach Xabi Alonso, were made to work hard before taking the lead in the 17th minute with Jonathan Tah's tap-in at the far post from a corner Their joy only lasted three minutes with Marius Woerl beating keeper Lukas Hradecky with a low drive to draw the hosts level Hradecky pulled off a spectacular save in the 26th when he blocked Sarenren Bazee's point-blank effort but Bielefeld's comeback was complete on the stroke of halftime with a close-range volley from Maximilian Grosser The hosts were relentless, keeping up the pressure and carving out several chances after the break before Leverkusen's Patrik Schick hit the post with an 81st-minute header who won the league and Cup double without defeat last season "It is hard to say what went wrong so shortly after the game but when we say that Bielefeld deserved to reach the final then that means we did a lot of things wrong," said Leverkusen midfielder Robert Andrich "We were missing all our usual strengths," he added "We could not have an impact up front and we made far too many mistakes at the back VfB Stuttgart face RB Leipzig on Wednesday in the other semifinal Third-tier Arminia Bielefeld stunned holders Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 on Tuesday \"I am so proud of the team,\" Bielefeld coach Michel Kniat said \"We defended with a lot of passion and that was the key It was great to go into the break with the lead and in the second half we kept up the pressure for what was a deserved win,\" he added Leverkusen, who had never lost a German Cup match under coach Xabi Alonso, were made to work hard before taking the lead in the 17th minute with Jonathan Tah's tap-in at the far post from a corner Their joy only lasted three minutes with Marius Woerl beating keeper Lukas Hradecky with a low drive to draw the hosts level The hosts were relentless, keeping up the pressure and carving out several chances after the break before Leverkusen's Patrik Schick hit the post with an 81st-minute header \"It is hard to say what went wrong so shortly after the game but when we say that Bielefeld deserved to reach the final then that means we did a lot of things wrong,\" said Leverkusen midfielder Robert Andrich \"We were missing all our usual strengths,\" he added \"We could not have an impact up front and we made far too many mistakes at the back VfB Stuttgart face RB Leipzig on Wednesday in the other semifinal.