Alonso concedes Bayer Leverkusen´s Bundesliga title defence is all but over

Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso has conceded the Bundesliga title to Bayern Munich, with his side now eight points adrift of the league leaders with just four matches remaining.

Second-placed Leverkusen, who won the domestic league and cup double last season without defeat, with their only loss coming against Atalanta in the Europa League final, conceded a 78th-minute equaliser to draw 1-1 away to St Pauli on Sunday.

They now have 64 points after 30 matches, with Bayern top on 72 after their 4-0 win over Heidenheim.

Opta’s supercomputer hands Leverkusen just a 0.2% chance of retaining the title, and Alonso, who has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid, conceded the race is all but over.

“Clearly, mathematically it is not over but we know there are very, very few chances,” Alonso told a press conference.

“Too many draws this season. That is the reason. Now the gap to Bayern is too big. But we have to be realistic. It is not all over yet. This is not the end of the season yet.”

Xabi’s thoughts on tonight’s draw. #FCSPB04 pic.twitter.com/qy4L7gADqZ

— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) April 20, 2025

Forward Patrik Schick headed in an Alex Grimaldo free-kick to give Leverkusen a 33rd-minute lead with his 18th league goal of the campaign.

Despite having Germany international Florian Wirtz in the starting lineup for the first time since he suffered an ankle injury in early March, though, Leverkusen could not score again.

And St. Pauli equalised when Carlo Boukhalfa capitalised on Lukas Hradecky’s error.

“In the second half St Pauli upped the pressure and we did not find that last pass to score a second goal,” Alonso said.

“Then we conceded the goal and it is just not enough for us. This is the way it is,” he said.

St Pauli were worthy of their point, having created chances worth more expected goals than Leverkusen, with 1.09 to the away side’s 0.77, while they also had more efforts on target, with five shots to four.

Despite it being a bitter evening for Alonso’s Leverkusen, they stretched their unbeaten run on the road in the Bundesliga to 32 consecutive games and are now only one match away from equalling Bayern’s all-time league record.