In that final moment, as things became desperate, Xabi Alonso and Harry Kane had the same reaction, rocking back sharply in fear.
Kane was in possession on the edge of the Leverkusen area, Alonso was in his technical area and could no longer perform. But the England captain exceeded his pass, the BayArena erupted and the man who could well be Jurgen Klopp’s successor had his greatest moment as a manager.
This evening could not have been more contrasting. Where everything went wrong for Kane and his rickety Bayern Munich team, Bayer Leverkusen were breathtaking, executing the plan Alonso had so perfectly devised that they dismantled Germany’s perennial champions.
In the end it was 3-0, but it could have been double. Leverkusen ran through Munich like lightning, scorching them and leaving them smoldering. Alonso’s fingerprints were all over it from start to finish. No wonder he is the favorite to be Liverpool’s next manager.
The kick-off was postponed. There have been protests across Germany all weekend over the prospect of outside investment in the Bundesliga and it was no different here, with tennis balls, rubber toys and other items littering the home goalmouth.
Bayer Leverkusen has a five-point lead over Bayern Munich after an impressive 3-0 win
Jeremy Frimpong added sparkle to the score after hitting home with a daring effort
Xabi Alonso’s side remain in pole position to win the Bundesliga after beating their title rivals
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You wondered whether the false start would have a negative impact on Leverkusen, who have not been in this position for years, but the opposite was true: Bayern were the team full of fear and simply could not get going once the game had started. .
Take Eric Dier: his first three plays included two hugely missed long balls that went out of play and a mischeck that almost led to him being caught in possession. He wasn’t the only one though, and it said it all that Manuel Neuer, the totem of this club, was also shaky.
But don’t they say that teams reflect the character of their managers? You couldn’t help but draw a comparison between Thomas Tuchel, jumping around and manically grabbing his baseball cap in a way that reminded you of Basil Fawlty before impending doom.
Alonso, on the other hand, exuded cool, sartorial and professional. Yes, there was a burning intensity – he unleashed on Bayern’s Alexsandar Pavlovic as the midfielder threw himself theatrically to the ground – but he was always in control. That also applied to his team.
Leverkusen’s football in the first period was breathtaking at times: short, rat-a-tat-tat passes that pinged triangularly between the black shirts.
One moment it seemed like they were in boxes, the next acre of space had become available and they were gone. This was undoubtedly the influence of their coach.
Talisman Harry Kane was helpless to prevent Bayern from suffering a costly defeat on the road
Josip Stanisic broke through, but refused to celebrate against his parent club
This smooth play set the stage for the opening goal.
Leverkusen went back in front in exciting fashion in the 18th minute, forcing Dayot Upamecano into a desperate clearance. But he only managed to find a touch and from the resulting throw-in the hosts took the lead.
Bayern hesitated, Robert Andrich burst down the left and flashed a ball across the six-yard box that required a finishing touch. Josip Stanisic arrived at the back post unnoticed and did just that. Croatia’s right-back refused to celebrate – he is on loan from Bayern – but he was the only one who did not.
A huge goal and a huge moment. There is still a long way to go in this race, but Leverkusen seems equipped for the challenge. They are fresh and lively, the antithesis of Bayern, which resembled stale bread. Kane could have imagined expressing his authority in this match, but he barely got a touch.
At one point in the second period he tried to give some instructions, but no one listened. A penny for his thoughts as, on the day Tottenham returned to the top four, he saw the medal he so desperately wanted slip slightly further out of his reach.
Stanisic (left) arrived at the back post to deliver a cross and raised his hands to apologize
Alex Grimaldo doubled Leverkusen’s lead after coming in at the far post and finding the net
Alonso, the big favorite for Liverpool’s hotseat, celebrated this full-time with his players
At that point Leverkusen had doubled their lead and how beautifully they did it.
Down the left side they went again, Nathan Tella inviting Alejandro Grimaldo to charge forward, with the Spaniard passing the ball back to the young Nigerian before storming into the area: one-two, one-two, 2-0.
Grimaldo’s finish was glorious, high into a tight corner that Neuer could not protect. More bedlam. Up in the stands, Rudi Voeller – a Leverkusen legend and one of Germany’s greats – sat shaking his head, seemingly unable to understand what was happening.
He could believe everything he saw, okay. Europe’s longest unbeaten run – 31 games – continues and the gloss was applied when Jeremy Frimpong scored from an unlikely angle, leaving Neuer stranded at the other end of the pitch.
Across the continent they will be watching what unfolds here. And you can be sure that on Merseyside they will be paying the most attention.
