Even without African stars, Xabi Alonso's Bayer are cooking in Bundesliga

Disbelief, madness, spectacle, show! There is no way that just one word could describe what happened this Saturday night at the Red Bull Arena. Leipzig were persistent and put the championship leader on the ropes twice, but Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen showed incredible patience and calmness, just like the Spaniard during his playing days, which in the end paid off many times.

Not only did Bayer survive, but managed to clinch a massive away victory deep in stoppage time. This win is so significant, especially when you consider all the absences Bayer are facing, some due to injuries, some due to the African Cup of Nations, 3-2.

Xabi Alonso proved once again that he is becoming a world-class coach. Many would find it difficult to cope with this kind of pressure at the top of the Bundesliga, especially in a situation where four or five first-team players are missing. But Xabi Alonso doesn't! As he was as a player, he is the same now as the head of the coaching staff - calm, focused on the final goal and thorough. That earned him not only staying in first place but also securing the place at the summit even if Bayern Munich win the two games they have in hand.

The five-goal thriller on Saturday, which saw many fantastic moves, dribbles and goals, was decided in the dying seconds, as Alejandro Grimaldo sent a perfectly accurate ball from the corner that flew over the entire Leipzig's defence. Ecuadorian defender Piero Hincapie remained cold-blooded on the far post, reacting perfectly and finding the back of the net for a 3-2 win.

BUNDESLIGA

Saturday

Darmstadt - Eintr. Frankfurt 2-2 (0-1)

/Justvan 61, Klarer 90+5 - Nkounkou 33, Knauff 51/

Freiburg - Hoffenheim 3-2 (1-0)

/Holer 37, Grifo 55, Sallai 85 - Weghorst 57, Beier 77/

Heidenheim - Wolfsburg 1-1 (0-0)

/Jenz 45+2 og - Cerny 7/

Bochum - Stuttgart 1-0 (0-0)

/Bero 50/

Koln - Dortmund 0-4 (0-1)

/Malen 12, 61, Fullkrug 58 pen, Moukoko 90+2/

RB Leipzig - Leverkusen 2-3 (1-0)

/Simons 7, Openda 56 - Tella 47, Tah 63, Hincapie 90+1/

Sunday

17.30: (1.10) Bayern (11.0) Werder (18.0)

19.30: (1.92) Monchengladbach (3.60) Augsburg (3.90)

***odds are subject to change