It was difficult for Bayer Leverkusen to catch on to the 2024-25 season. The conquest of the first Bundesliga in its history, winning the Cup, reaching the final of the Europa League and the milestone of remaining undefeated for 51 games generated tremendous wear and tear, both physical and psychological, which the ‘aspirin team’ accused of beginning of season.
Now the ‘Xabineta’ is flying again: it has chained 11 consecutive victories. Not only that. The victory against Mainz (1-0) allows them to place second, one point behind the lead. With one more point, yes, than Bayern.
A good moment that has to do with Schick’s extraordinary scoring streak – he has six goals in the last three games – but, especially, with the improvement experienced by several of Xabi Alonso’s ‘key men’: Wirtz, Xhaka… . and Alejandro Grimaldo.
The Spanish international, Euro Cup champion, was key from his left wing/back position in Leverkusen’s successes last season: he scored 12 goals and registered 20 assists in 51 games.
This campaign started well – he scored against Leipzig and Feyenoord – but then it has gone like the team: from less to more. Two of the four goals he has scored and four of the eight assists he has distributed have come in the last nine games.
Three goals from free kicks since the start of the 2023-24 Bundesliga
Against Mainz (1-0) he was crowned by scoring the winning goal from a free kick. “When I saw him in that position I knew we had a good chance. I thought: ‘Let’s go, Grimi.’ It was a great goal and very important for us,” acknowledged Xabi Alonso.
Not only Alonso, Granit
You are right. Grimaldo, who was making his 50th Bundesliga appearance for Leverkusen, has emerged as the best free-kick taker in Europe. There are three goals he has scored from direct free kicks since the last Bundesliga began.
According to ‘Opta’, no other player has scored more free-kick goals (3) in that period. He is followed, with two, by Brais Méndez (Real Sociedad), Arnold (Wolfsburg), Marmoush (Eintracht), Amiri (Mainz), Brandt (Dortmund), Sandro (Las Palmas), Biraghi (Fiorentina), Perrin (Auxerre), Vlahovic (Juventus), Beste (Heidenheim) and Foden (Man. City). Long live Grimaldo.
