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Leverkusen extend unbeaten run to 48 games, Alonso in 5-1 loss at Frankfurt – Winnipeg Free Press

Posted on by Neons

BERLIN (AP) – Even without coach Xabi Alonso, Bayer Leverkusen remained unbeaten on Sunday as it extended its unbeaten streak to 48 games with a 5-1 rout of Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt.

Alonso was sent off for his yellow cards, but he watched from the stands without looking tired after the Bundesliga champions' 2-0 win over Roma in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final.

Alonso rotated the team with only Edmond Tapsoba, Robert Andric and Granit Xhaka, keeping their places from the win in Rome. Brazilian winger Arthur made his first start after recovering from a serious thigh injury.

Philipp Hofmann of VfL Bochum during the Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FC Union Berlin and VfL Bochum at An der Alten Forsterei Stadium in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (Andreas) Gora/dpa via AP)
Philipp Hofmann of VfL Bochum during the Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FC Union Berlin and VfL Bochum at An der Alten Forsterei Stadium in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, May 5, 2024. (Andreas) Gora/dpa via AP)

Xhaka gave the guests the lead in the 12th minute with a great long shot.

Ugo Ekitike equalized with a header from a deep ball inside the far post. It was the third game in which the French striker scored.

But that was as good as Omar Marmusch was on fire for Frankfurt when he only beat Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukasz Hradecki.

Patrick Schick headed Kevin Trapp before the break and Exekiel Palacios made it 3-1 from the penalty spot in the 58th minute.

Sub Jeremy Frimpong capped off a great team move with a fourth goal in the 77th. Piero Hincapie took possession in defence, the ball quickly went past Tapsoba, Andric and Viktor Boniface, who laid it off for Jonas Hofmann, who played it forward for Adam Hlozek on the left. Chlozek's cross was perfectly placed for Frimpong to finish easily.

Boniface scored the fifth goal in the 89th with another penalty.

Leverkusen have not lost any competition this season. His 48-match unbeaten run is a record in Europe's 'big five' leagues.

Leverkusen's 82 Bundesliga goals are also a club record.

Philipp Hofmann, center of VfL Bochum, with his teammates after scoring his team's fourth goal during the Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FC Union Berlin and VfL Bochum at An der Alten Forsterei Stadium in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, May 5, 2018. are celebrating together. , 2024. (Andreas Hora/dpa via AP)
Philipp Hofmann, center of VfL Bochum, with his teammates after scoring his team's fourth goal during the Bundesliga soccer match between 1. FC Union Berlin and VfL Bochum at An der Alten Forsterei Stadium in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, May 5, 2018. are celebrating together. , 2024. (Andreas Hora/dpa via AP)

THE UNION IS IN DRY

Playing against Real Madrid in the Champions League this season, Union Berlin came close to relegation after losing 4-3 at home to Bochum.

Bochum defender Maximilian Wittek scored twice in one game for the first time, before Keven Schlotterback made it 3-0 in the 37th. Schlotterback did not celebrate scoring against his former club.

Union coach Nenad Bjelica responded with three changes at the break, sending on Jorbe Vertessen, Brenden Aaronson and Chris Bedia for Kevin Volland, Kevin Vogt and Lucas Tusart.

Vertessen pulled one back in the 59th, three minutes from time before Bedia grabbed Union's second, but Bochum's Philipp Hofmann grabbed the visitors' fourth in the 70th.

Aaronson did brilliantly to elude a defender before setting up Benedict Hollerbach for the Union's third in the 74th, but the hosts were unable to get an equaliser.

Union, who were promoted to the Bundesliga only in 2019, are playing in the Champions League this season after an improbable fourth-place finish last year. The summer transfers didn't pay off and the team let go of long-time favorite coach Urs Fischer in November.