Alonso says Leverkusen is ready to stay unbeaten
Bayer Leverkusen is ready to become the first team in Bundesliga history to go an entire season unbeaten, coach Xabi Alonso said after the 5-0 demolition of Bochum maintained the run and completed an entire season away from home without defeat.
Treble-chasing Leverkusen cruised past Bochum 5-0, which had Felix Passlack sent off in the 15th minute, to stretch a remarkable unbeaten run across all competitions this season to 50 consecutive matches.
Alonso's team surpassed Benfica's long-standing European unbeaten record set from 1963 to 1965 with a 2-2 draw against Roma that sent it through to the UEFA Europa League final last week.
The win over Bochum also meant it became only the third team in Bundesliga history to remain unbeaten in every away match of a season.
"After that red card it was a completely different game for us," Alonso said.
"I am very satisfied with the result. It was important for us. Now we have a super goal on Saturday to win the title without any defeat. That has never happened before."
Leverkusen, which faces Atalanta in the UEFA Europa League showpiece and takes on Kaiserslautern in the DFB Pokal final later in May, entertains Augsburg at home in Saturday's Bundesliga finale, where it will also receive itsleague trophy for the first time in the club's history.
"To receive the title in Leverkusen will be very special," Alonso said. "The players have been focused the entire season so for them it will be very special. I am proud of them."
