Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella's Bayer Leverkusen are the newly crowned German champions.
Die Werkself defeated Werder Bremen to seal a maiden top-flight title in their 120 years of existence — also a first major silverware in over three decades — going into the final five games of the 2023/24 campaign.
Even if that eventuality was pretty much inevitable, such has been the gulf between them and everyone else. Xabi Alonso's team weren't taking a rain-check on the first opportunity to get the job done.
Remarkably, for a club that hasn't won major silverware in 21 years, ending Bayern's untrammelled ten-season run as German champions — a formality, at this point — may not even be the high point of this campaign; Alonso's charges could end the season with multiple trophies (they are in the DFB-Pokal final and also in the hunt for UEFA Europa League glory), and also have an unbeaten run to guard.
In the Bundesliga, Die Werkself have played 31 games, winning 25 and drawing 6, while scoring 77 goals and conceding 22.
In the DFB Pokal, they've won all five of their matches and have advanced to the final. They've scored a total of 23 goals while conceding only five.
Alonso's team progressed to the final of the Europa League undefeated. In their 10 matches, they've won eight and drawn twice, scoring 27 goals while conceding only eight.
But their genius resides as much in their style as the cold statistics. While they might be regarded hyperbolically as ‘immortal', Leverkusen are doing it with their endearing, sometimes frustrating, mix of flair and foibles.
Ten times this season, they have come from behind to preserve their unbeaten run. Bayern Munich in the first half of the season, against Qarabag thrice, RB Leipzig, Stuttgart home and away, Dortmund, Augsburg, Hoffenheim…
In this piece, we bring to you a breakdown of the ten times Leverkusen have rallied from behind to maintain their unbeaten streak.
Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen (15/09/2023)
On the specified day, Bayern Munich hosted Leverkusen at the Allianz Arena. English striker Harry Kane gave the hosts the lead in the 7th minute, but Alex Grimaldo equalised for the visitors in the 24th minute to end the first half.
In the second half, Bayern left it late to restore their lead, courtesy of Leon Goretzka's goal in the 86th minute.
Just when many thought Bayern were securing maximum points, Exequiel Palacious intervened for Die Werkself, leveling the score in the 94th minute via the spot and securing a point for his team.
Qarabag FK vs Bayer Leverkusen (09/11/2023)
This was a Matchday 4 Europa League fixture where the German outfit played as guests against Azerbaijan's Qarabag FK at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium.
It was a game the Germans dominated but had to wait until late to secure the win. Nigerian international Boniface scored from the spot in the 94th minute to secure a 1-0 victory for Leverkusen.
Augsburg vs Bayer Leverkusen (13/01/2024)
The Fuggerstädter welcomed Alonso and his men to a Bundesliga clash at the WWK Arena. Despite Leverkusen's efforts, they struggled to find an opening until the 94th minute, when Argentine Exequiel Palacious broke through, securing the breakthrough goal that ultimately clinched the victory for the visitors.
RB Leipzig vs Bayer Leverkusen (20/01/2024)
A week after their dramatic victory at the WWK Arena, Bayer Leverkusen ensured they would replicate the same magic against RB Leipzig at the Red Bull Arena in a Bundesliga fixture. Xavi Simons had given the hosts the lead in the 7th minute, only for Tella to equalise after the interval.
Lois Openda scored in the 56th minute to restore the lead for the hosts, but their advantage was short-lived as Jonathan Tah equalised for Alonso's troops in the 63rd minute.
With the game ending in a 2-2 stalemate, Bayer Leverkusen's Ecuadorian defender struck in the 91st minute to secure a vital away victory for his club.
Bayer Leverkusen vs VFB Stuttgart (06/02/2024)
Die Werkself welcomed Stuttgart to the Bay Arena for a DFB Pokal clash. Stuttgart drew first blood with Waldemar Anton scoring in the 11th minute to give the visitors a 1-0 lead going into halftime.
Five minutes into the second half, Robert Andrich equalised for the hosts, but Leverkusen's joy was short-lived as Stuttgart regained the lead eight minutes later through Chris Fuhrich.
However, the visitors' lead lasted only eight minutes, as Amine Adli leveled the score for Leverkusen in the 66th minute.
As the game neared its conclusion, Tah scored on the stroke of regulation time to secure the victory for his club.
Qarabag FK vs Bayer Leverkusen (07/03/2024)
This was the first leg of the Round of 16 Europa League clash, with the Azerbaijani side hosting the Germans.
Qarabag took a commanding 2-0 lead courtesy of goals from Yassine Benzia and Juninho. Florian Wirtz pulled one back for the visitors, and Patrick Schik leveled the score in the 92nd minute to ensure the game would end in a 2-2 stalemate.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Qarabag FK (14/03/2024)
A week after his stoppage-time goal in the first leg, Schick repeated the same magic in the reverse fixture by scoring two stoppage-time goals to secure a 3-2 win over Qarabag at the Bay Arena.
As was the case in the first leg, Qarabag took another commanding 2-0 lead with goals from Abdellah Zoubir and Juninho.
Jeremie Frimpong pulled one back for Leverkusen in the 70th minute, with Schick scoring in the 93rd and 97th minutes to send Leverkusen to the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Hoffenheim (30/03/2024)
Hoffenheim almost dealt Leverkusen their first defeat of the season in a Bundesliga clash at the Bay Arena.
The visitors took the lead in the 33rd minute through Maximilian Beier and managed the game effectively until succumbing to Leverkusen's pressure in the dying moments.
Their collapse allowed Andrich to equalise for Alonso's men in the 88th minute, with Schick securing the winner in the 91st minute.
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen (21/04/2024)
A raucous atmosphere was guaranteed for this one as Die Schwarzgelben faced off against Leverkusen in a Bundesliga clash at the Signal Iduna Park.
The first half was entertaining, showcasing all the elements expected in a football match except goals.
The second half mirrored the first, with both teams entertaining their fans but struggling to find the back of the net.
In the 81st minute, Dortmund broke the deadlock with a goal from Niclas Fullkrug. There was an air of forced gaiety at the stadium, especially with Dortmund poised to end Leverkusen's unbeaten streak.
However, Leverkusen had other plans. Josip Stanisic scored in the 97th minute to salvage a draw for Leverkusen and maintain their unbeaten record.
Bayer Leverkusen vs VFB Stuttgart (27/04/2024)
With champions Leverkusen facing their first loss of the season in any competition trailing 2-1 late in stoppage time, Andrich hammered in a loose ball to equalise in the 96th minute of stoppage time.
Two goals in the space of nine minutes to start the second half from Chris Fuhrich and Deniz Undav put Stuttgart on course, with Adli pulling one back after 61 minutes.
Lukas Hradecky's remarks after Stuttgart game
After yet another dramatic late goal ensured his team maintained their unbeaten record, Bayer Leverkusen captain Lukas Hradecky tried to contextualise his team's remarkable season.
“Madness,” Hradecky told his interviewer, “I have no words for it. It's incredible. Our fans deserve it too, they push us. But we could really do with taking the lead again in a game or scoring earlier,” he said.
“We're dangerous off set pieces,” Hradecky said, “Anything can happen, but I would say that it's 50-50 between quality and luck, he ended.”
How have Boniface and Tella impacted Leverkusen this season?
Throughout Leverkusen's remarkable campaign this season, Nigerian duo of Boniface and Tella have played pivotal roles in the team's success.
Boniface, a standout performer for Leverkusen, has been nothing short of sensational. Leading the team with 11 goals from just 20 games, the Super Eagles forward has displayed his clinical finishing and offensive prowess on numerous occasions.
Impressively, he has also provided nine assists, demonstrating his ability to create scoring opportunities for his teammates.
Even amidst a three-month absence due to injury, Boniface's influence on Leverkusen's attack has been undeniable, with his contributions proving vital in crucial moments.
Tella, on the other hand, has also been instrumental in Leverkusen's success this season. With five goals and two assists in 22 Bundesliga appearances.
Bayer Leverkusen are two games away from equaling Benfica’s all-time football 48 game unbeaten streak.
