Bayer Leverkusen returned to the top of the Bundesliga with a 4-0 home win over Union Berlin.
Xabi Alonso’s side have taken 31 points from a possible 33 this season, equalling the record set by Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich in 2015-16.
Alex Grimaldo, Odilon Kossounou, Jonathan Tah and Nathan Tella scored as Leverkusen replaced Bayern at the top.
“The feeling is great at the moment,” said former Spain and Liverpool midfielder Alonso.
“We have played with a lot of focus and concentration. But there are still a lot of matches and a lot can happen in football and suddenly all expectations are gone.”
Leverkusen have won 16 of their 17 matches in all competitions this season, including the past 12 in a row.
Alonso was appointed in October last year with Leverkusen second from bottom of the table after eight games.
They ended the season in sixth and reached the Europa League semi-finals.
Alonso’s only previous managerial experience was a three-year spell in charge of Real Sociedad’s B team, having retired from playing in 2017.
Champions Bayern moved to the top of table with a 4-2 win over Heidenheim on Saturday.
Union Berlin stay bottom on goal difference following a club record ninth successive defeat.
Line-ups
B Leverkusen
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Hrádecky
- 6Kossounou
- 4Tah
- 3Hincapié
- 30FrimpongSubstituted forTellaat 81′minutes
- 34Xhaka
- 25PalaciosSubstituted forAndrichat 87′minutes
- 20Grimaldo
- 7HofmannSubstituted forAdliat 81′minutes
- 10WirtzSubstituted forMbambaat 87′minutes
- 22BonifaceSubstituted forHlozekat 87′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Stanisic
- 8Andrich
- 11Amiri
- 17Kovár
- 18Mbamba
- 19Tella
- 21Adli
- 23Hlozek
- 32Puerta
Union Berlin
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1RønnowBooked at 74mins
- 3Jaeckel
- 23BonucciSubstituted forKnocheat 24′minutes
- 4Monteiro Pinto Leite
- 18JuranovicSubstituted forTrimmelat 45′minutes
- 33Král
- 20Laïdouni
- 26RoussillonSubstituted forGosensat 78′minutes
- 19Haberer
- 27BeckerSubstituted forAaronsonat 64′minutes
- 11FofanaSubstituted forBehrensat 78′minutes
Substitutes
- 6Gosens
- 7Aaronson
- 12Busk
- 16Hollerbach
- 17Behrens
- 28Trimmel
- 29Tousart
- 31Knoche
- 36Kemlein
- Referee:
- Timo Gerach
- Attendance:
- 29,387
Live Text
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Match ends, Bayer 04 Leverkusen 4, 1. FC Union Berlin 0.
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Second Half ends, Bayer 04 Leverkusen 4, 1. FC Union Berlin 0.
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Granit Xhaka (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Kevin Behrens (1. FC Union Berlin).
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Foul by Robert Andrich (Bayer 04 Leverkusen).
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Aïssa Laïdouni (1. FC Union Berlin) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Noah Mbamba (Bayer 04 Leverkusen).
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Paul Jaeckel (1. FC Union Berlin) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Adam Hlozek replaces Victor Boniface.
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Substitution, Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Noah Mbamba replaces Florian Wirtz.
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Substitution, Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Robert Andrich replaces Exequiel Palacios.
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Attempt saved. Amine Adli (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Florian Wirtz.
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Goal! Bayer 04 Leverkusen 4, 1. FC Union Berlin 0. Nathan Tella (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Amine Adli following a fast break.
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Hand ball by Florian Wirtz (Bayer 04 Leverkusen).
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Foul by Victor Boniface (Bayer 04 Leverkusen).
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Alex Král (1. FC Union Berlin) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Substitution, Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Nathan Tella replaces Jeremie Frimpong.
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Substitution, Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Amine Adli replaces Jonas Hofmann.
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Substitution, 1. FC Union Berlin. Robin Gosens replaces Jérôme Roussillon.
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Substitution, 1. FC Union Berlin. Kevin Behrens replaces David Datro Fofana.
