Another fantastic showing from Leverkusen last night against West Ham, where the Hammers spent very long periods without the ball and faced 33 attempts on their goal. Sunday should be a famous one in Bayer's soon to be 120 year history, as three points will secure their first ever league title win and they can do that with five games to spare, an amazing achievement! That will not be enough for them, they have spoken openly this week about also wanting that first ever unbeaten campaign in Bundesliga history, a record number of points and the treble! You just get the impression that they will not be truly happy unless they tick all those boxes. You can see how they score so many goals, but also how they do often concede, as at times last night they had all ten outfield players in the Hammers final 20% of the field, with three CB's on the edge of the United box, you will watch a lot of football games without seeing that again. Head coach Xabi Alonso was a shoe in for the Liverpool job, or any available big club in Europe, but has opted to remain at Leverkusen next season and clearly feels he can achieve still more here and with everyone prepared to run through a brick wall for him if asked and hanging on his every word, you kind of understand, but you have to have a real inner belief to turn down the biggest clubs in the world when they come calling, albeit knowing that there will be other opportunities down the line. He, and 42 unbeaten games(37 wins) have passed that confidence on to his players and they simply refuse to accept defeat, regardless of score , or how long is left to play in games......................... confidence is a wonderful thing, but easy to take for granted when you have it and a bugger to find once lost!

 

 

Now it is Werder Bremen's chance to play spoiler/ be lambs to the slaughter and they arrive in lower mid table "safety" and on a six game unbeaten run and having lost the reverse fixture 3-0. On a more positive note, they have scored in their last eight away games, exactly one goal in the last seven of those, including a 1-0 win at Bayern and will expect to score today, they also have a ridiculously good record in the BayArena losing just once in 10 visits , scoring in nine, 20 goals total, but have never played THIS Leverkusen here before and resistance is probably futile!

 

Bayer have conceded in 3 of 4 home league games which were played on the Sunday following a Thursday home Europa League game and in 57.14% of all starts in this record breaking season.