Leverkusen claim first ever German title as former Celtic star helps Xavi Alonso make history

Maiden title breaks Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga stranglehold

Bayer Leverkusen sealed a maiden Bundesliga title in style as Florian Wirtz’s hat-trick wrapped up a comfortable 5-0 win over Werder Bremen.

Against a backdrop of expectation and cauldron of noise at the BayArena, Xabi Alonso’s side extended their unbeaten streak this season to 43 matches to end Bayern Munich’s run of 11 successive league titles.

Victor Boniface eased any nerves in the stadium with a 25th-minute penalty after Julian Malatin fouled Jonas Hofmann in the box, with referee Harm Osmers awarding the spot-kick following a VAR consultation.

Xabi Alonso celebrates with a mock-up of the Bundesliga trophy after Bayer Leverkusen were crowned 2023-24 champions for the first time. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images)

Wave after wave of attack followed but Leverkusen were thwarted until Granit Xhaka curled home a left-foot strike from 25 yards on the hour to effectively end any hope of Bremen spoiling the party.

Wirtz, introduced on the stroke of half-time, then rifled high into the net from a similar distance midway through the second half and a brief pitch invasion followed when he bagged his second in the 83rd minute after going clean through on goal.

He had his treble with a fine finish, the last kick of the match which sparked another pitch invasion as Leverkusen got the victory they needed to guarantee the title with five matches left in the season.

Former Celtic defender Jeremie Frimpong was introduced as a 62nd minute substitute but has been a key figure in the Leverkusen line-up this season, starting all but five league matches and contributing eight goals and eight assists.

His form has seen the Dutch international linked with a big money move to the Premier League in England with Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United all said to be interested in signing the 23-year-old, who Celtic sold to Leverkusen for £11m in 2021.