Unstoppable Leverkusen: Xabi Alonso’s Side Makes Bundesliga History and Eyes European Glory

Bayer Leverkusen’s record-breaking ride under Xabi Alonso finally hit a bump on Saturday as RB Leipzig came from behind to win 3-2 and snap Die Werkself’s 35-game Bundesliga unbeaten streak. The defeat ends a run that had stretched back to May 2024 and included last season’s invincible domestic title, a European-record 51-match sequence without loss in all competitions and a German Cup triumph. Leipzig’s late surge, sparked by substitute Benjamin Šeško and sealed with a Dani Olmo penalty, exposed rare defensive cracks in a side that had conceded just 14 league goals in the previous campaign. The immediate question is whether this reverse is simply a blip or the first sign of post-invincible fatigue. Alonso has already lost midfield anchor Granit Xhaka to a hamstring injury that could sideline him until October, and sporting director Simon Rolfes admitted the club “may accelerate plans for another holding midfielder” before the window closes. Leverkusen still top the table on goal difference but face a brutal run: Bayern Munich away next weekend, a DFB-Pokal rematch with Borussia Dortmund and their Champions League opener against Galatasaray. Captain Jonathan Tah insisted the defeat “might even help us” by relieving external pressure, yet fans will recall how the Europa League final loss to Atalanta (3-0) in May exposed similar frailties when the stakes spiked. Key takeaways for Leverkusen’s title defence • Defensive depth is thin. Edmond Tapsoba and Piero Hincapié looked leg-weary after summer Copa América duty. • Florian Wirtz remains the creative heartbeat, but Leipzig doubled him expertly after the break; a Plan B is essential. • Alonso’s high line invites risk when wing-backs push simultaneously—opponents are exploiting spaces vacated by Jeremie Frimpong. Why the setback could still be a springboard Last term, Arsenal’s “Invincibles” myth created weekly distraction; Leverkusen can now refocus on tangible silverware. With unbeaten noise gone, incremental wins may prove more sustainable across four competitions. Market watch Leverkusen have been linked with Tottenham’s Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Sporting’s Morten Hjulmand as midfield insurance, while rising academy winger Marcel Mensah impressed in pre-season and could earn Bundesliga minutes if Moussa Diaby’s ankle knock lingers. Bottom line The streak is over, but a single defeat doesn’t erase the tactical cohesion Alonso has built. If Rolfes plugs an obvious midfield gap and Alonso recalibrates his full-back rotations, Leverkusen still possess the firepower—and the hunger—to chase back-to-back Bundesliga crowns. Their response over the next three weeks will reveal whether Saturday’s stumble becomes a turning point or a footnote in an otherwise historic era at the BayArena.