Alonso breaks record as Leverkusen extends run
Xabi Alonso broke the record for consecutive away matches unbeaten as a Bundesliga coach after Bayer Leverkusen's comfortable 2-0 win at Holstein Kiel.
Reigning champion Leverkusen eased past the struggler with a goal and an assist from Amine Adli, closing the gap on leader Bayern Munich to five points.
This victory means Alonso has now gone 28 successive away games in the league without suffering a defeat.
Leverkusen has still only been beaten once in the league since the beginning of last season, and is on an unbeaten streak of 21 matches since a loss to RB Leipzig in August, while it has not conceded a goal for 334 minutes.
It was one-way traffic from the start and Leverkusen took the lead through the in-form Patrik Schick when he volleyed in a superb Adli cross at the far post in the ninth minute.
Morocco international Adli, who only returned to action last week after a leg fracture, then scored on the stroke of half-time, chipping the ball over Kiel goalkeeper Timon Weiner after good work from Wirtz.
Leverkusen is second on 50 points, with Bayern in top spot on 55 and hosting third-place Eintracht Frankfurt on Monday (AEDT), an opponent the Bundesliga leader has beaten in just one of their past four meetings.
Speaking after the win, Alonso said he was delighted with the control his team exerted.
"We have developed a top mentality, and this is what this record shows," the Spanish coach said.
"We are efficient, we are stable and want to keep doing that. In the next away game against Eintracht Frankfurt we want to show our qualities again.
"We controlled the game and dominated even though it was not easy. After the last two draws it was even more important to have an away win."
