Bayer Leverkusen wins first Bundesliga title, ending Bayern Munich’s 11-year reign

Bayer Leverkusen wins first Bundesliga title, ending Bayern Munich’s 11-year reign Leverkusen's head coach Xabi Alonso , centre, is sprayed with beer after Bayer Leverkusen won the German Bundesliga title beating Werder Bremen in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) 1 of 20 | Leverkusen’s head coach Xabi Alonso , centre, is sprayed with beer after Bayer Leverkusen won the German Bundesliga title beating Werder Bremen in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Read More Leverkusen players celebrate with a makeshift trophy after Bayer Leverkusen won the German Bundesliga title beating Werder Bremen in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) 2 of 20 | Leverkusen players celebrate with a makeshift trophy after Bayer Leverkusen won the German Bundesliga title beating Werder Bremen in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Read More FILE - Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz, right, celebrates with teammates Jonathan Tah, up, Victor Boniface, left, and Granit Xhaka, centre, after scoring a goal that was seconds later disallowed by a VAR decision during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, on Dec. 3, 2023. Excitement was building in Leverkusen, Germany on Sunday ahead of local team Bayer Leverkusen’s expected Bundesliga title win after an outstanding season so far. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File) 3 of 20 | FILE - Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, right, celebrates with teammates Jonathan Tah, up, Victor Boniface, left, and Granit Xhaka, centre, after scoring a goal that was seconds later disallowed by a VAR decision during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, on Dec. 3, 2023. Excitement was building in Leverkusen, Germany on Sunday ahead of local team Bayer Leverkusen’s expected Bundesliga title win after an outstanding season so far. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File) Read More Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz, bottom, celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal of the game during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday April 14, 2024. (David Inderlied/dpa via AP) 4 of 20 | Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, bottom, celebrates after scoring his side’s fourth goal of the game during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday April 14, 2024. (David Inderlied/dpa via AP) Read More Leverkusen fans run on the pitch after Bayer Leverkusen won the German Bundesliga title beating Werder Bremen in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) 5 of 20 | Leverkusen fans run on the pitch after Bayer Leverkusen won the German Bundesliga title beating Werder Bremen in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Read More Leverkusen fans run onto the pitch to celebrate their team winning the Bundesliga after the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday April 14, 2024. (Christoph Reichwein/dpa via AP) 6 of 20 | Leverkusen fans run onto the pitch to celebrate their team winning the Bundesliga after the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday April 14, 2024. (Christoph Reichwein/dpa via AP) Read More Leverkusen players celebrate after scoring their side's third goal of the game during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday April 14, 2024. (David Inderlied/dpa via AP) 7 of 20 | Leverkusen players celebrate after scoring their side’s third goal of the game during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday April 14, 2024. (David Inderlied/dpa via AP) Read More Leverkusen players celebrate their side's opening goal during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) 8 of 20 | Leverkusen players celebrate their side’s opening goal during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Read More Leverkusen's Granit Xhaka celebrates his side's second goal during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) 9 of 20 | Leverkusen’s Granit Xhaka celebrates his side’s second goal during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Read More Leverkusen's head coach Xabi Alonso reacts during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) 10 of 20 | Leverkusen’s head coach Xabi Alonso reacts during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Read More The team bus of Bayer Leverkusen is welcomed by thousands of supporters at the stadium ahead of the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday, April 14, 2024. Leverkusen could win the Bundesliga title if they win the match against Bremen.(AP Photo/Martin Meissner) 11 of 20 | The team bus of Bayer Leverkusen is welcomed by thousands of supporters at the stadium ahead of the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday, April 14, 2024. Leverkusen could win the Bundesliga title if they win the match against Bremen.(AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Read More The team bus of Bayer Leverkusen is welcomed by thousands of supporters at the stadium ahead of the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday, April 14, 2024. Leverkusen could win the Bundesliga title if they win the match against Bremen.(AP Photo/Martin Meissner) 12 of 20 | The team bus of Bayer Leverkusen is welcomed by thousands of supporters at the stadium ahead of the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday, April 14, 2024. Leverkusen could win the Bundesliga title if they win the match against Bremen.(AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Read More FILE - Supporters hold a banner, reading „Thanks Xabi" prior the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and TSG Hoffenheim at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, on March 30, 2024. Excitement was building in Leverkusen, Germany on Sunday ahead of local team Bayer Leverkusen’s expected Bundesliga title win after an outstanding season so far. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File) 13 of 20 | FILE - Supporters hold a banner, reading „Thanks Xabi” prior the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and TSG Hoffenheim at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, on March 30, 2024. Excitement was building in Leverkusen, Germany on Sunday ahead of local team Bayer Leverkusen’s expected Bundesliga title win after an outstanding season so far. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File) Read More FILE - Leverkusen's head coach Xabi Alonso, centre, celebrates with his team after winning the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and TSG Hoffenheim at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, on March 30, 2024. Excitement was building in Leverkusen, Germany on Sunday ahead of local team Bayer Leverkusen’s expected Bundesliga title win after an outstanding season so far. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File) 14 of 20 | FILE - Leverkusen’s head coach Xabi Alonso, centre, celebrates with his team after winning the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and TSG Hoffenheim at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, on March 30, 2024. Excitement was building in Leverkusen, Germany on Sunday ahead of local team Bayer Leverkusen’s expected Bundesliga title win after an outstanding season so far. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File) Read More Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz calms down fans and security personnel as he celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal of the game during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday April 14, 2024. (David Inderlied/dpa via AP) 15 of 20 | Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz calms down fans and security personnel as he celebrates after scoring his side’s fourth goal of the game during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday April 14, 2024. (David Inderlied/dpa via AP) Read More Leverkusen's head coach Xabi Alonso, center, celebrates winning the German championship after the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday April 14, 2024. (David Inderlied/dpa via AP) 16 of 20 | Leverkusen’s head coach Xabi Alonso, center, celebrates winning the German championship after the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday April 14, 2024. (David Inderlied/dpa via AP) Read More Leverkusen fans run onto the pitch to celebrate their team winning the Bundesliga after the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday April 14, 2024. (Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa via AP) 17 of 20 | Leverkusen fans run onto the pitch to celebrate their team winning the Bundesliga after the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday April 14, 2024. (Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa via AP) Read More Leverkusen players celebrate with a makeshift trophy after Bayer Leverkusen won the German Bundesliga title beating Werder Bremen in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) 18 of 20 | Leverkusen players celebrate with a makeshift trophy after Bayer Leverkusen won the German Bundesliga title beating Werder Bremen in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Read More Leverkusen's head coach Xabi Alonso , centre, is sprayed with beer after Bayer Leverkusen won the German Bundesliga title beating Werder Bremen in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) 19 of 20 | Leverkusen’s head coach Xabi Alonso , centre, is sprayed with beer after Bayer Leverkusen won the German Bundesliga title beating Werder Bremen in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Read More Leverkusen players and fans celebrate on the pitch after Bayer Leverkusen won the German Bundesliga title beating Werder Bremen in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) 20 of 20 | Leverkusen players and fans celebrate on the pitch after Bayer Leverkusen won the German Bundesliga title beating Werder Bremen in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Read More BY JAMES ELLINGWORTH Updated 9:37 PM CEST, April 14, 2024 Share LEVERKUSEN, Germany (AP) — It’s “Neverkusen” no more. Coached by Xabi Alonso, Bayer Leverkusen won the Bundesliga title for the first time Sunday to end Bayern Munich’s 11-year reign as champion. In the end, it wasn’t even close — Leverkusen leads second-place Bayern by 16 points after stretching its German record unbeaten run to 43 games across all competitions this season. Florian Wirtz scored a hat trick as Leverkusen routed Werder Bremen 5-0 and the game ended with a pitch invasion Sunday to secure the club’s first-ever German league title with five games remaining. “It’s indescribable ... I don’t think it’s possible, or I personally can’t even realize it yet,” Wirtz told broadcaster DAZN. “I need a little more time in the locker room to really get my head around what we’ve achieved. But yeah, so far it’s just been nice to party outside with the fans and also have a bit of a party in the locker room.” Fans had already stormed onto the field when Leverkusen scored its fourth goal with seven minutes to go, and the final minutes were played in thick red smoke from supporters’ pyrotechnics while players on Leverkusen’s bench clapped along to songs, danced and hugged one another.