Bayer Leverkusen scripted history in German football after beating Mainz in the Bundesliga fixture on Friday night. Bayer broke Bayern Munich's all-time record to go unbeaten in most matches in German football competitions and also went 11 points clear top.
Xabi Alonso's men are now unbeaten in 33 matches across competitions with a 2-1 win over Mainz. Bayern held the previous record with 32 unbeaten games who lost to Leverkusen in their last game and now take on RB Leipzig at home on Saturday hoping to close the gap at the top.
Granit Xhaka and Robert Andrich were on the scoresheet as Leverkusen recorded an easy win over 10-man Mainz. This was their 19th win in 23 league matches this season as they continue to get closer to their first-ever silverware in the top division of German football. Leverkusen also remain without any trophy since their triumph in DLF-Pokal 1993.
Xabi Alonso in demand
Both Liverpool and Bayern Munich are in the market for a new head coach next season and both are reportedly keeping tabs on their former players. The Spanish coach has yet to pen a new contract with Leverkusen and was tight-lipped when asked about his future.
"I'm assuming that right now [I will be Leverkusen coach next season]," Xabi told reporters on Thursday. "It's not a problem for me. I know that my goal is to be successful with the team, This is my work. We are in a very good situation right now. We want to continue like this. Right now I'm the coach. That's for sure. I have nothing new to say for the future. We will see. It's normal that there are questions, but it's off-topic now. Now is not the time for me to talk much about it. (Joining Bayern) It's not a problem. It's a super opponent that we have, but there is no distraction. For me this [speculation] is not a problem."
Real Madrid are also showing interest in Xabi as a potential successor to Carlo Ancelotti at Santiago Bernabeu.