The Bundesliga had waited a long time for this. On the rare occasion a contender to genuinely challenge Bayern Munich emerges, we have come to wince at the moment of impact. If it looks too good to be true, it normally has been in a run of 11 successive titles.
Yet this time Bayer Leverkusen were not only ready to compete.
They were ready to dominate on their terms. This time, it looks like it is for real.
This took us back nearly 13 years, to 26 February 2011. Another Saturday night Topspiel and another title contender's statement of late winter intent. On the night that Jürgen Klopp's young Borussia Dortmund went to Allianz Arena and swept aside the hosts with verve - effectively ending Louis van Gaal's reign on the spot - they announced themselves to Planet Football. They were not just a curio, but serious players.
This weekend, it was Leverkusen's coming-out party.
Beyond dedicated Bundesliga watchers, glances of recognition had been shot towards Xabi Alonso, particularly in the wake of the unfolding coda to Klopp's years of triumph at Liverpool.
This, however, showed the world exactly what Leverkusen under Alonso are about; the full brochure in glossy colour, PowerPoint presentation with champagne brunch, accompanying light show and firework finale on the forecourt. Leverkusen are not just pacemakers in this Bundesliga title race. They are the leaders, they are still unbeaten and they are quite simply the best team in Germany.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der February 13, 2024-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der February 13, 2024-Ausgabe von The Guardian.
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