Highlights

Matchday 28

FINAL

An der Alten Försterei

Bayer 04 Leverkusen

45' + 8'

WirtzFlorian Wirtz

GosensRobin Gosens

45' + 3'

B. Brand

An der Alten Försterei

0:39

Watch: Lukas Hradecky gearing up for title party

Full-time: Union 0-1 Leverkusen

Florian Wirtz's penalty right on half-time put Xabi Alonso's Bayer on the brink of title success. It wasn't always pretty from the visitors at the Alte Försterei but they battled through in the end to take three huge points against their ten-man opponents. Leverkusen could be celebrating championship glory as early as next weekend.

Full-time

90'

+ 5

Rönnow in action

Adli is denied by one more Rönnow save at the death.

90'

+ 1

Time added on

There will be an added six minutes to play at the Alte Försterei.

90'

Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes

Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.

Odilon Kossounou33.86km/h

Nathan Adewale Temitayo Tella33.76km/h

Christopher Trimmel33.42km/h

88'

Title nears

As Leverkusen look to see this game out, as things stand, the visitors could be crowned champions next week, depending on results. With Bayern Munich currently losing in Heidenheim, it's all going Bayer's way.

88'

Distance run (km)

11.2

11.3

Diogo Leite Florian Wirtz

83'

Andrich warned

Andrich trips Kaufmann and the Bayer player is booked for the third time this season.

82'

Yellow card

Robert Andrich

81'

Juranović over

The Union sub gets up highest but can only head a corner over the crossbar.

79'

Substitution

Jeremie Frimpong

Nathan Tella

78'

Substitution

Benedict Hollerbach

Brenden Aaronson

77'

Tella problem

Rönnow makes one more save from Tella, who looks to have picked up a knock and will have to be replaced.

Heading towards 41

It seems unlikely that Bayer will lose here now, which means the league leaders are edging towards 41 games unbeaten this season and a record-equalling 28 in the Bundesliga in 2023/24.

72'

Visitors wary

Juranović gets down the right and whips a cross into the centre. There's nobody there for Union but that attack will serve as a warning for Xabi Alonso's men, who need to close out this game.

67'

One-sided

They may have been bossing this game, but Leverkusen are yet to put it to bed.

Goal attempts

5off target

0on target

10off target

5on target

67'

Boniface back in the Bundesliga

Leverkusen's top scorer Victor Boniface makes his Bundesliga return following injury. It's the striker's first league game in 108 days.

67'

Substitution

Victor Boniface

Borja Iglesias

65'

Adli sees yellow

Adli slips and flies into the back of Doekhi, who is hurt. Adli is booked.

64'

Yellow card

Amine Adli

63'

Triple swap

Král, Laïdouni and Juranović come on to bring some relief to the hosts.

63'

Substitution

Josip Juranovic

Christopher Trimmel

63'

Substitution

Alex Král

András Schäfer

62'

Substitution

Aissa Laidouni

Rani Khedira

61'

Lining up for B04

The away pressure is relentless now and the ten men of Union are struggling under the Berlin sunshine. Changes are imminent for the Berliners.

59'

Almost Adli

Wirtz plays one of those sliding passes into the feet of Adli, who strikes towards the near post. Rönnow is there to palm wide.

56'

Possession (%)

3862

53'

Union pressure

The hosts are enjoying a solid spell of possession and win successive corners, which come to nothing.

50'

Tella tries one

Bayer build again and Tella tries to angle a shot towards the far corner. His effort is blocked out.

48'

Iglesias wanders off

Borja Iglesias is an inch offside as he sends a close-range shot at goal, which Rönnow blocked.

46'

Peeeep!

We're back underway at the Alte Försterei. Kaufmann replaces the injured Vertessen for the second period.

Kick-off!

45'

+ 8

Substitution

Mikkel Kaufmann

Yorbe Vertessen

45'

+ 8

Half-time: Union 0-1 Leverkusen

The runaway Bundesliga leaders take a narrow advantage into the half following Florian Wirtz's late penalty against the ten men of Union.

45'

+ 8

Wirtz from the spot!

Florian Wirtz calmly finds the corner of the net from the penalty spot and Leverkusen take the lead right on half time.

Half-time

45'

+ 8

Florian Wirtz

GOAL!

0:1

Penalty

Goal probability

Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.

77 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

11 m

45'

+ 7

Leverkusen penalty

Hincapie's shot is nudged onto the post by Trimmel's arm. Odilon Kossounou had the ball in the net but a long VAR check ensues. The referee is then called to the screen and subsequently awards a penalty.

45'

+ 4

SituationNo penalty

ReviewHandball?

DecisionPenalty

45'

+ 3

Gosens sent off

Gosens sees his second yellow after Tella whizzed past him and the Union player couldn't help but slide in and bring the B04 attacker down.

45'

+ 3

Second yellow card

Robin Gosens

43'

Rönnow denies Andrich

The Germany international sees an effort spooned out by the Union keeper.

41'

B04 on target

The visitors have had the much clearer chances in this game, while Union have lacked a touch of composure in front of goal.

Goal attempts

3off target

0on target

4off target

3on target

39'

Vertessen opportunity

It's all action now. Leverkusen lose possession and Union push forward. Yorbe Vertessen gets a little too excited and wellies a shot high and wide of the target.

37'

Tousart sees yellow

Tousart is booked after trodding on Amiri.

37'

Yellow card

Lucas Tousart

35'

Gosens: side-netting

Union win a corner. Trimmel crosses towards the near post, where Gosens rises and heads towards the near post. The ball hits the side-netting.

32'

Hložek limps off

Hložek falls and signals to the bench he can't continue. Amine Adli is coming on.

32'

Substitution

Amine Adli

Adam Hložek

31'

Wayward Khedira

Finally, Union have a spell, albeit a short one. It ends with Khedira shooting weakly off target. Still, it's given the home supporters something to cheer.

30'

Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes

Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.

Nathan Adewale Temitayo Tella33.76km/h

Florian Wirtz31.95km/h

Brenden Russell Aaronson31.46km/h

29'

So close Grimaldo!

Wirtz feeds a pass in for Tella, who plays a cut-back pass, first time, towards Grimaldo. The Spaniard scuffs a shot with his right foot that rolls inches past the post.

Union holding out

Nenad Bjelica's side have been up against it in terms of Leverkusen's domination of the ball but - a couple of away chances aside - the hosts are doing a decent job of frustrating their opponents thus far.

19'

Bayer expect

xGoals

The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).

At this point, it looks a question of when, not if Leverkusen open the scoring.

xGoals

0.0

0.43

Goals

15'

Rönnow in top form

It's another good save from the Union goalkeeper to deny Borja Iglesias, who powered a header at goal after connecting with Tella's fine cross.

13'

Grimaldo ok to continue

There were a few looks of concern while Álex Grimaldo stayed down following a challenge by Trimmel. The Spaniard is soon back to his feet, however, and the game continues.

10'

Nearly Grimaldo

From the subsequent free kick, Grimaldo pings one towards the far post left-footed. Rönnow gets across to push the shot away two-handed. Decent save.

Gosens booked

Gosens trips Wirtz on the edge of the Union area and that's a booking for the home player. Free kick in an interesting position for Leverkusen.

Yellow card

Robin Gosens

Hložek searching

Union are prevented from breaking away and Adam Hložek gets a shot away. The Czech's effort takes a deflection, sending the ball looping into the air and into the arms of Rönnow.

Union searching

Backed by a vociferous home support - as always - Union are starting to press their opponents as they look to get into this game. It's been all Leverkusen thus far.

Iglesias has a pop

Borja Iglesias pushes through on the right and sends a harmless effort away from goal.

Away we go!

It's game on in Berlin! The hosts in white shirts and red shorts, Leverkusen in sky blue and black shorts.

Kick-off!

Alte Försterei buzzing

Plenty of sunshine in the German capital as both teams make their last preparations ahead of kick-off. We're all set to go!

More on those teams

Bayer coach Xabi Alonso makes six changes to the side that started the midweek, DFB Cup semi-final win against Fortuna Düsseldorf, with captain Hrádecký returning in goal and Hincapie, Kossounou, Hlozek, Tella and Iglesias all in from the get-go. Union, meanwhwhile, make just one switch, with Andras Schäfer back from suspension to take Mikkel Kaufmann's place up top.

Union starting XI

Rønnow - Doekhi, Vogt, Leite - Khedira - Trimmel (c), Tousart, Schäfer, Gosens - Vertessen, Aaronson

Union subs

Schwolow, Jaeckel, Juranovic, Knoche, Laidouni, Král, Kaufmann, Bedia, Hollerbach

Leverkusen starting XI

Hrádecký (c) - Kossounou, Tah, Hincapié, Grimaldo - Andrich, Xhaka – Tella, Wirtz, Hložek –Iglesias

Leverkusen subs

Kovář, Stanišić, Hofmann, Tapsoba, Schick, Adli, Boniface, Palacios, Frimpong

0:50

Hungry for titles

Bayer04 secured Champions League qualification for 2024/25 last weekend, but for their striker Patrik Schick, it's silverware that the team is now hungry for. "We don't just want to qualify for the Champions League anymore, no, we want to win a few trophies," the Czech forward insisted. "The club's mentality has changed. Everyone here feels that we have the chance to achieve something and everyone gives 100 per cent for it," Schick added.

Chasing Klopp and Pep

Leverkusen are unbeaten in 27 Bundesliga games so far this season. The record for a single campaign stands at 28 and was achieved by Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich (2013/14) and by Borussia Dortmund under Jürgen Klopp (2011/12), the latter achieving the feat in the final 28 games of the campaign.

Treble chance

Not only are Leverkusen within touching distance of a first ever Bundesliga crown, their 4-0 win over Fortuna Düsseldorf in midweek has taken them also to the DFB Cup final, while they face West Ham in the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals next week, meaning they are still on course for three titles this season.

2:54

Watch: March’s Goal of the Month contenders

Cast your vote below to choose the winner!

Alonso on Union

"Union are a strong, physical team, but also good with the ball. We have to be ready from the first whistle. It's not time to celebrate yet. We are in a good position, but we have to keep working hard and approach every game with full concentration. There are still seven games left and we want to take the next step in Berlin."

Bjelica on Leverkusen

"Leverkusen are having a very successful season and are deservedly at the top. They play attractive football and are strong up front. But we're playing at home in front of our fans and we want to give our all to make it as difficult as possible for Leverkusen to play to their strengths."

4:59

Better late than Neverkusen!

Indeed, late goals have been a big part of Bayer's remarkable season to date, with Alonso's men netting 22 times from the 81st minute on this term.

6:44

Schick goal-fest

Patrik Schick was Leverkusen's last-gasp hero again when he scored in added time to help the Werkself to a 2-1 win against Hoffenheim last weekend. What better time, then, to sit back and enjoy every one of the super striker's Bundesliga goals.

Alonso's fond Union memories

B04's tactician celebrated his biggest win as a Bundesliga coach to date against Union when Bayer ran out 5-0 winners against Die Eisernen on November 6, 2022.

Hope for hosts

Under head coach Nenad Bjelica, Union won five of their last seven home games.

Brilliant Bayer

Xabi Alonso's men are hurtling towards a first-ever Bundesliga title and sit 13 points clear at the summit with seven games to play. The Werkself have already equalled their best-ever points haul for a single campaign (73), have secured a place in next season's Champions League and are on a club-best run of eight wins on the bounce.

Union rise up

After that defeat against B04, the then bottom-placed Union started looking up. The team from the German capital have since collected 23 points and have risen to 12th place in the table.

2:03

Last time out

This time back on Matchday 11, Leverkusen went back to the top of the Bundesliga with a resounding victory against Union Berlin.

Hello and welcome!

Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of this Matchday 28 fixture between Union Berlin and Leverkusen.