Union Berlin 0-1 Bayer Leverkusen: League leaders close in on title with narrow win

Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen defeated Union Berlin 1-0 on Saturday to equal a league record unbeaten streak of 28 matches and all but clinch their first league title with a 16-point lead and six games remaining.

Xabi Alonso's team, who have not lost in 41 matches across all competitions this season, can win their first Bundesliga title and trophy in 31 years with a victory over Werder Bremen at home next week.

They are also poised to end Bayern Munich's 11-season league dominance, as the German club have won every Bundesliga title since 2013.

Leverkusen now have 76 points with six games remaining, while second-placed Bayern are stuck on 60 after a shocking 3-2 defeat at Heidenheim, their second league loss in a row.

"I am very proud of the team. We prepared well and had the right mentality. The situation now is very good for us and maybe we will have something to celebrate next week," Alonso told a press conference.

"But before next week there is the Europa League and that is where the focus is now."

Leverkusen, long derided as 'Neverkusen' for their lack of trophies in recent decades, have advanced to the German Cup final. Next week, they face West Ham United in the first leg of their Europa League quarterfinal.

"I don't like to be compared. We have our own way of doing things and we have done it like that from the start and we have developed that way," Alonso said.

"We want to keep going in the same way no matter if it is the Europa League or the German Cup."

The visitors put Union on the back foot from the start, but despite numerous opportunities, they had to wait until deep into first-half stoppage time for Florian Wirtz to convert a penalty.

Minutes earlier, Union's Robin Gosens was sent off for a second booking.

Union never really mounted a comeback with a player down in the second half, and Leverkusen only needed to control the game, easily holding on for three points to equal the league record for most consecutive unbeaten games.

SportsLigue