Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images
Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen scored twice late in the game with Robert Andrich and Patrik Schick to earn a remarkable 2-1 comeback win over Hoffenheim on Saturday and edge closer to the league title.
Leverkusen, unbeaten in 39 matches across all competitions this season, are on 73 points with seven matches left. Bayern Munich, who face Borussia Dortmund later on Saturday, are in second place on 60.
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A day after coach Xabi Alonso announced he would be staying on despite interest from major European clubs, Leverkusen fell behind when Hoffenheim’s Maximilian Beier broke clear and beat keeper Lukas Hradecky from close range in the 33rd minute.
The hosts piled on the pressure after the break but were repeatedly denied by keeper Oliver Baumann, including with a spectacular double save in the 76th minute.
They hit the post through Borja Iglesias in the 87th minute before Germany international Andrich stabbed in the equaliser a minute later. Schick completed the comeback with a far-post volley in stoppage time.
The result means that Leverkusen now have the second longest unbeaten run in the history of Europe’s top-five leagues, overtaking the 2004-05 Inter Milan team who managed 38 games, and behind only Juventus, who went 42 games without losing in the 2011-12 season.