After securing a confident 5-0 victory against Werder Bremen on Sunday, 14 April, Bayer Leverkusen was officially crowned the 2023/24 Bundesliga champions. Their incredible Bundesliga record of 25 wins and four draws this season has prompted early title celebrations with five fixtures still to be played.
It seems that no one and nothing can stop the German powerhouse from going invincible this season, as the team continues pulling miracles on the football pitch snatching points and saving games at the very last minutes or even seconds.
Days later, Leverkusen advanced to the semifinals of the UEFA Europa League after drawing a second-leg game against West Ham United in the quarterfinals thanks to Jeremie Frimpong’s late equalizer. With a 1-1 draw in London, Bayer went through on an aggregate score of 3-1 and extended their remarkable unbeaten streak to 44 games.
It is worth noting that last season, Die Werkself went trophyless and finished sixth in the Bundesliga, suffering 12 losses in the domestic league alone. Based on that, it would be fair to say that Bayer’s transformation under Xabi Alonso’s management has been insane.
The role of each player who has contributed to the club’s continuing historic run cannot be overlooked or understated. In this article, we will focus on those players who have earned particular attention from the football community.
Granit Xhaka
Granit Xhaka, a 31-year-old experienced central midfielder, is one of the key reasons for Bayer’s immense success. Switzerland’s captain joined Bayer from Arsenal last summer and emerged as a true heartbeat of the team in his debut season.
Xhaka’s fighting spirit and leadership traits were known during his time at Arsenal, but it seems that since joining Leverkusen, Xhaka has undergone a rejuvenation process, making him even tougher and more intelligent as a football player.
The Swiss international plays a pivotal role in controlling the direction of Bayer’s possessions and remains cold-blooded under pressure. His passing accuracy, ball movement and defensive awareness have significantly improved this season, making him a great asset at both ends of a football pitch. His improved vision and creativity ensure Leverkusen’s solidity in their build-up plays. It is visible that Leverkusen relies on his important presence on the field.
Florian Wirtz
Florian Wirtz is a 20-year-old German prodigy and the product of FC Köln’s youth academy. His potential became evident to football fans right at the beginning of his professional career. His rapid growth as a player continues to impress the football world.
After coming on the pitch as a substitute in the second half of the Bundesliga title-winning match against Werder Bremen, Wirtz managed to net a hat-trick and prove his huge talent once again.
Wirtz is a central attacking midfielder and is already considered one of the best football players in his position. He orchestrates Leverkusen’s offensive combinations with great dribbling and exceptional playmaking abilities. His 17 goals and 18 assists for Bayer this season support his status as the main offensive creator in the team.
Alejandro Grimaldo + Jeremie Frimpong
One of the keys to Bayer Leverkusen’s solid defence and monstrous offence lies in the active participation of their valuable fullbacks.
One half of Leverkusen’s incredible fullback duo is Alejandro Grimaldo, who joined the club this season from Benfica and plays on the left flank. Thanks to his great crosses and shots from set pieces as well as open play, the 28-year-old Spaniard has managed to record 11 goals and 16 assists in 43 appearances for his side this season, which is more than impressive for a player of his position.
Grimaldo is actively involved in Leverkusen’s offensive possessions, often facilitating plays with forward passes, but also helps the team in defending when necessary.
The positive remarks about Grimaldo can be similarly attributed to Jeremie Frimpong, the right-back. While the 23-year-old Dutch international is less of a set-piece specialist than his Spanish counterpart, his electrifying pace and agile dribbling carry great value for Leverkusen’s attacks.
Most of the time, opponents simply cannot keep up with Frimpong’s speed and constant high activity all over the pitch. Frimpong’s finishing and unselfishness have resulted in his 24 personal goal contributions (13 goals + 11 assists) for the club this season.
The Whole Team Deserves Credit
As mentioned earlier, each player who has taken part in Bayer Leverkusen’s revolutionary transition deserves his own credit. From the club’s talisman and captain standing in goal, Lukáš Hrádecký, to reliable defenders, such as Jonathan Tah and Edmond Tapsoba, ending with powerful striking forces like Victor Boniface and Patrick Schick, the credit goes to the whole team and club staff for the fantastic work as well as memorable achievements.
The question that still stands is how far Bayer will be able go this season unbeaten.