How Bayer Leverkusen became the story of the season: Xabi Alonso’s brilliant side are 41 games undefeated and could scoop three trophies… with West Ham posing their next hurdle

How Bayer Leverkusen became the story of the season: Xabi Alonso’s brilliant side are 41 games undefeated and could scoop three trophies… with West Ham posing their next hurdle

Bayer Leverkusen have been seconds from disaster a few times recently.

Deep in Azerbaijan, they were heading for a 2-1 defeat to Qarabag in the first leg of their Europa League last 16 tie until Patrik Shaik equalized in the second minute of stoppage time.

But it was nothing in the comeback drama, with Qarabag leading 2-1 in stoppage time and Leverkusen on course to crash out of Europe.

The most spectacular turnarounds were scored by Schick in the 93rd and 98th minutes.

This has been happening at the national level as well. On 30 March, Leverkusen entered the closing stages of Hoffenheim only for Robert Andrich and Schick to fire again.