Champions Bayer Leverkusen extended their unbeaten streak as they secured a 5-1 away victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga on Sunday.
Manager Xabi Alonso had to watch from the stands as he served a touchline ban for yellow card accumulation, but it made no difference as Leverkusen continued their dominant form this season.
The result leaves Leverkusen at the summit with 84 points, while Frankfurt sit sixth with 45. Leverkusen’s record unbeaten run now extends to 48 matches across all competitions — levelling Benfica’s 59-year-old record in European football since the introduction of UEFA club competitions.
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Leverkusen broke the deadlock with Granit Xhaka’s bending strike from outside the box after 12 minutes, while Frankfurt equalised at the 32nd minute with Hugo Ekitike’s perfectly timed header, surpassing Leverkusen’s defence.
Leverkusen regained the lead just before halftime with Patrick Schick’s towering header, and secured their third goal in the 58th minute from a penalty converted by Exequiel Palacios after Niels Nkounkou pulled Nathan Tella by the shirt.
Jeremie Frimpong added a fourth for the visitors at the 77th minute, tapping in from short distance a cross into the box while Victor Boniface made it five from the penalty spot a minute before time after Ansgar Knauff tripped Frimpong.