Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Matt Ford

How Xabi Alonso finally found the antidote to Bayer’s Neverkusen jibes

Xabi Alonso Leverkusen Fernando Carro Bundesliga Cologne Football Bayer Leverkusen Europa League German Cup
Xabi Alonso and his players are on the verge of unprecedented success as they go for glory in the Bundesliga, Europa League and German Cup.
Xabi Alonso and his players are on the verge of unprecedented success as they go for glory in the Bundesliga, Europa League and German Cup. Photograph: Ina Fassbender/AFP/Getty Images

Before Bayer Leverkusen’s recent German Cup semi-final against Fortuna Düsseldorf, the Ultras Leverkusen arranged a performance to celebrate the 90th birthday of the Bayer-Kreuz – the Bayer Cross, the 51-metre-diameter illuminated logo of Bayer pharmaceuticals that dominates the Leverkusen skyline.

“Bright in the night over my roof,” read the golden letters across the upper tier of the BayArena. Below, a replica of the Bayer-Kreuz was plugged in, shining above a row of cardboard houses.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
George Clooney ‘planning to open Italian restaurant in France’
The Oscar-winning actor is said to be preparing to open the eaterie near the Provençal estate where his family have established their home in France.
BANG Premier
BANG Premier
“Is Picking Your Nose Actually Bad For You? Human Anatomy Reveals A Surprisingly Nuanced Answer
Picking your nose might help you breathe more easily, but an anatomy video shows why scratching one particular area may be more dangerous than it appears.
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
Cigarette Smoke Reprogrammed Lung Stem Cells in Lab Models and Helped Steer Which Lung Cancer Type Formed
A Johns Hopkins lab study found that cigarette smoke primed lung stem cells for specific cancer types. What it shows and what it does not prove.
Medical Daily
Medical Daily
That Cute Squishy Toy Contains Water Beads — CPSC Says Stop Using It
A colorful squishy toy that looks like an innocent stress reliever may hide something parents cannot see: expandable water beads. About 37,000 Squishy Dumpling and Crazy Squib Ball toys were recalled on October 1 after regulators determined that their water beads could expand beyond federal limits and create a potentially…
Kids Ain't Cheap
Kids Ain't Cheap
103-year-old World War II veteran still runs a basement bar in Maryland that would be illegal to open today
At 103, World War II veteran Irvin Koch is still behind the counter at Irv’s Basement Bar in Maryland, a watering hole he has run since 1963. But there is a surprising reason his unusual home-based bar has survived for more than six decades: modern zoning rules would make it…
The Economic Times
The Economic Times
Travis Barker hospitalised
Travis Barker has shared photos from hospital, where his wife, Kourtney Kardashian, and daughter, Alabama Barker, were by his side.
BANG Premier
BANG Premier
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play