What a noise inside the BayArena.

It is going to be some night in Leverkusen if their team can get over the line.

Bayer Leverkusen

Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso: "The fans deserve the chance to celebrate something. If we do that, it'll be a special moment for the club. We need to be focused in our game and trust our qualities and mentality."

In 2001-02, Bayer Leverkusen were chasing a Bundesliga, Champions League and German Cup Treble.

They ended up with nothing after finishing one point behind champions Borussia Dortmund, runners-up to Real Madrid in the Champions League and lost the German Cup final 4-2 to Schalke.

It is that campaign that spawned the 'Neverkusen' and 'Eternal Bridesmaids' tags the club has struggled to shake off.

Is that all about to change?

Werder Bremen boss Ole Werner: "We're playing against the best team in Germany. Leverkusen are a top-quality team in all areas and they are able to showcase this on the pitch. Although it's been a while since their last defeat, we're going into the game with the aim of taking our chances and causing an upset against the league leaders."

* Bayer Leverkusen's last defeat was on 27 May 2023.

Will Werder Bremen spoil the party?

They started the day 12th in the Bundesliga and without a win in six league games.

Bayer Leverkusen

Image source, Reuters

The last team to win the Bundesliga other than Bayern Munich were Borussia Dortmund in 2011-12.

Bayern spent more than £80m to sign England captain Harry Kane last August.

Leverkusen's biggest outlay last summer was £21.4m for Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka.

Image source, .

I am convinced Xabi Alonso will end up being with Liverpool, Bayern Munich or Real Madrid one day.

So, why stay at Leverkusen?

He thinks there is still room for improvement, the club will keep the squad together, gaps will be filled with better players and he wants to stay to learn more - because it has only been a year and half in a job with the elite and he is only 42.

He is in no major rush to get to the highest peaks in the game.

Read more: Why Bayer Leverkusen manager 'felt time was right' to end speculation.

In October 2022, Leverkusen gave Xabi Alonso his first managerial role in first-team football and, having taken over with the club second from bottom in the Bundesliga, Alonso led them to a sixth-placed finish.

Bayer Leverkusen's incredible form this season has seen Alonso linked with his former club Liverpool after Jurgen Klopp announced he was leaving at the end of the season.

Alonso has also been linked with Bayern Munich but in March the Spaniard announced he would remain in his role as Bayer Leverkusen manager next season.

"I am convinced it is the right decision, I am happy," said Alonso, who helped Liverpool win the Champions League in 2005.

Bayer Leverkusen fans have waited a lifetime for this moment - and they're ready to party! Thousands have been outside the BayArena for several hours singing and whipping up an atmosphere. There were red flares when the team coach passed earlier.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Getty Images

Bayer Leverkusen have been one of Europe's most remarkable stories this season. Their record in all competitions in 2023-24:

Played: 42

Won: 37

Drawn: 5

Lost: 0

Will Xabi Alonso's side finish the season unbeaten with the Bundesliga, German Cup and Europa League in the trophy cabinet?

Bayer Leverkusen

It's not just in the Bundesliga where Bayer Leverkusen have been outstanding.

They are chasing a treble after reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa League and the final of the German Cup.

Leverkusen travel to London to face West Ham on Thursday boasting a 2-0 lead from the first leg.

They are also hot favourites to win the German Cup final against Kaiserslautern, who play in the second tier. That final takes place on 25 May in Berlin.

Xabi Alonso makes seven changes to the side that started the 2-0 Europa League win over West Ham on Thursday. Bayer Leverkusen's starting XI includes former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka and ex-Southampton forward Nathan Tella.

Bayer Leverkusen: Hradecky, Kossounou, Tah, Tapsoba, Tella, Andrich, Xhaka, Hincapie, Hofmann, Adli, Boniface.

Werder Bremen's starting XI includes former Tottenham defender Milos Veljkovic.

Starting XI: Zetterer, Malatini, Gross, Veljkovic, Weiser, Schmid, Lynen, Bittencourt, Agu, Woltemade, Ducksch.

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Rex Features

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Hello!

The Premier League might be heading for a photo finish but ii's a completely different picture in Germany.

Bayer Leverkusen will wrap up the title with five games to spare if they clock up another win today.

Quite simply, they have been unstoppable.

They have won 24 of their 28 league and sit 13 points clear of nearest rivals Bayern Munich with a game in hand.

When Bayer Leverkusen appointed Xabi Alonso in October 2022, they were second from bottom in the Bundesliga.

Eighteen months on, they are so far clear at the top that if they beat Werder Bremen today they will be crowned champions for the first time in their 120-year history.

Leverkusen stand on the brink of history.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Reuters