Bundesliga champions-elect Bayer Leverkusen once again showcased their trademark resilience, securing a late goal to salvage a point against VFB Stuttgart, thus extending their remarkable unbeaten streak to 46 games across all competitions.
Playing in front of their supporters at the Bay Arena for the first time since clinching the championship, Leverkusen faced the looming threat of their first defeat of the season as Stuttgart surged ahead with a 2-0 lead in the second half.
Following a subdued first half, Die Werkself found themselves trailing 2-0 shortly after the break, with Chris Fuehrich capitalizing on a rebound in the 47th minute, drilling the ball into the net after keeper Lukas Hradecky deflected a shot onto the post.
Turkish sensation Deniz Undav then doubled the visitors' lead just ten minutes later, setting the stage for Leverkusen's uphill battle.
Despite Stuttgart's near-miss attempts to widen the gap, Leverkusen initiated their comeback with Amine Adli's precision strike in the 61st minute, eluding keeper Alexander Nuebel and reducing the deficit.
Nuebel, however, showcased his prowess with three remarkable saves to preserve Stuttgart's narrow advantage.
Yet, Leverkusen's Hradecky countered with an outstanding save of his own, denying Stuttgart's Serhou Guirassy in the 87th minute, before Andrich emerged as the hero in stoppage time, prolonging Leverkusen's impressive undefeated streak.
The match culminated in a thrilling finish, defying the odds as Leverkusen, seemingly on the brink of defeat, once again displayed their resilience, ultimately averting loss.
Late goal theatrics have become synonymous with Bayer Leverkusen this season, earning them the moniker of comeback kings and late-game specialists.
On numerous occasions, they have demonstrated their knack for finding the net in the dying moments of matches, either securing victory or salvaging a draw.
Bayer Leverkusen's penchant for late drama is evident in several key moments this season
- 90′ vs Ottensen (DFK Pokal)
- 90'+4 vs Bayern (Bundesliga)
- 90'+2 vs Sandhausen (DFK Pokal)
- 90'+4 vs Qarabag (Europa League)
- 90'+4 vs Augsburg (Bundesliga)
- 90'+1 vs Leipzig (Bundesliga)
- 90'+5 vs Bayern (Bundesliga)
- 90'+1 vs Stuttgart (Bundesliga)
- 90'+2 vs Qarabag (Europa League)
- 90'+3 & +7 vs Qarabag (Europa League)
- 90'+1 vs Hoffenheim (Bundesliga)
- 90'+1 vs W.Ham (Europa League)
- 90′ vs Bremen (Bundesliga)
- 90'+7 vs Dortmund (Bundesliga)
- 90'+6 vs Stuttgart (Bundesliga)
This trend has solidified Leverkusen's reputation as ‘Neverlusen,' a nickname reflecting their refusal to accept defeat.
They have netted an astonishing 17 goals after the 89th minute across all competitions as of Bundesliga's Matchday 31.
Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella: The Nigerian connection
The Nigerian duo of Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella have significantly contributed to Leverkusen's title chase and unbeaten streak.
Boniface, a standout performer, leads the team with 11 goals from 20 games, accompanied by nine assists, despite missing approximately three months of the season.
His impactful presence upfront has propelled Leverkusen to the summit of the Bundesliga.
While not as prominent as Boniface, Tella has made valuable contributions, scoring five goals and providing two assists in 22 Bundesliga appearances, further bolstering Leverkusen's undefeated campaign with three games remaining.
Bayer Leverkusen are top of the Bundesliga table with 81 points after 31 games, 12 points ahead of nearest rivals Bayern Munich.
As the season approaches its climax, the question looms: Can Bayer Leverkusen maintain their unbeaten record?
With their indomitable spirit and penchant for late heroics, it remains well within their grasp.
