'Full throttle' after 'magic moment': Leverkusen back in title race
Coach Xabi Alonso spoke of "a magic moment" as Leverkusen cut the gap on leaders Bayern to six points from an 88th-minute equalizer through an Angelo Stiller own goal and Patrik Schick's winner four minutes into stoppage time on Sunday night.
Leverkusen trailed 2-0 and 3-1 and seemed to be heading to a fourth straight defeat in all competitions before the stunning turnaround with the late goals they have become famous for.
Midfielder Robert Andrich promised some banter towards the Munich players at the national team camp for Nations League quarter-final matches against Italy, after which the title race will resume in a fortnight with the final eight matchdays.
Bayern and Leverkusen both suffered surprised home defeats a week ago before Bayern dropped points again on Saturday in a 1-1 draw at Union Berlin, which allowed Leverkusen to narrow the gap.
"We are now heading into the international break and the final phase of the season in a good mood and with postive energy," Alonso said.
Leverkusen return from the international break with games against relegation-threatened Bochum and Heidenheim, and with confidence restored in Stuttgart. They are also in the German Cup semi-finals.
Andrich said "we will see whether Bayern will give us a chance" to fight back, but Bayer want to be ready for such a scenario.
Andrich pledged that they want to continue "full throttle", put "as much pressure as possible" on Bayern in the league and win the Cup.
"Sometimes it takes victories like this one to show that the spirit is still there," defender Jonathan Tah said. "We believed until the end."
Bayer can cut the gap on Bayern to three points in the restart because they play Bochum the day before Bayern take on lowly St Pauli.
Leverkusen could also have more rest than Bayern in the final weeks because they were ousted by them in the Champions League.
The Cup semi at third tier Arminia Bielefeld in early April is their last mid-week match, while Bayern have a two-legged Champions League quarter-final against Inter Milan, and a possible semi-final tie.
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