Leverkusen 1-5: Break Frankfurt’s curse, equal Benfica’s all-time record

The Leverkusen Not only broke Frankfurt’s curse of five defeats in the last five seasons, but broke it 5-1 Inside Intract for 32nd match day of the Bundesliga.

Xabi Alonso made a number of changes to the starting line-up but the champions did not hesitate and Granit Xhaka took the lead with a superb shot from outside. The hosts responded with an in-form Hugo Ekitike, but then the disparity between the two teams was evident on the field.

Patrick Schick regained the lead before the break and Ezequiel Palacios’ penalty set the stage for victory in the 58th minute. Substitutes Jeremy Fripong and Victor Boniface avenged last year’s 5-1 defeat at the same venue.

The win kept Leverkusen unbeaten in 48 games, equaling Benfica’s best post-war record in Europe. He now chases Union Saint-Gilois’ mark of 60 games since 1935 and Celtic’s mark of 62 games since 1917.

Results of the 32nd match

• Hoffenheim – Leipzig 0-1 (Gramaric 90′ / Cesco 38′)
• Dortmund – Augsburg 5-1 (20′ Mullen, 4′, 29′ Mukoko, 34′ Reus, 64′ Nmetza / 32′ Vargas)
• Wolfsburg – Darmstadt 3-0 (8′ Wimmer, 10′ Vd, 90+2′ Czerny)
• Werder – Gladbach 2-2 (45′, 66′ Voltemante / 8′ Hack, 90+1′ Neuhaus)
• Stuttgart – Bayern 3-1 (29′ Stergio, 85′ Jeong, 90+3′ Mbouba / 37′ Kane)
• Cologne – Freiburg 0-0
• Union – Bochum 3-4 (59′ Werdesen, 62′ Badia, 74′ Hollerbach / 16′, 31′ Wittek, 37′ Schloderbeck, 70′ Hoffmann)
• Eintracht – Leverkusen 1-5 (32′ Ekitike / 12′ Xhaka, 44′ Sig, 58′ Pen. Palacios, 77′ Fribang, 89′ Pen. Boniface)
• 05/05 20:30 Heidenheim – Mainz

Next match day

• 10/5 21:30 Augsburg – Stuttgart
• 11/5 16:30 Cologne – Union
• 11/5 16:30 Gladbach – Eintracht
• 11/5 16:30 Leipzig – Werder
• 11/5 16:30 Freiburg – Heidenheim
• 11/5 19:30 Mainz – Dortmund
• 12/5 16:30 Darmstadt – Hoffenheim
• 12/5 18:30 Bayern – Wolfsburg
• 12/5 20:30 Bochum – Leverkusen