MAGIC OF THE (GERMAN) CUP
This time last year, Bayer Leverkusen’s 39-match unbeaten streak across all competitions and almost supernatural propensity for pulling late, late equalising and winning goals out of das collective hinterteil was the talk of Europe. With the end of the season hoving into view, Football Daily certainly wasn’t alone in wondering if Xabi Alonso’s side could go an entire season without losing a single game, while the young Basque in charge of them was being linked with Real Madrid, Liverpool and perhaps even a late run at the White House despite being just two years into his senior managerial career. While Leverkusen went on to secure a domestic double without tasting defeat, they ultimately came up short by being soundly beaten in the final of Bigger Vase, where Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman took a sledgehammer to their long unbeaten run, which lasted 51 matches, in the Italian club’s 3-0 win. It was the penultimate game of the German side’s season, and the only one they failed to win or draw.
