Only Pep and Flick standing on Xabi's path to Bundesliga glory

Xabi Alonso's unstoppable machine, Bayer Leverkusen, moved ten points clear at the top of the Bundesliga table following a Sunday 2-0 away victory at 10-man FC Koln.

After defending champion Bayern Munich was held to a disappointing 2-2 draw by Freiburg on Friday, Leverkusen was provided with a massive chance to extend their lead in the title race and position themselves in a perfect place, miles away from the top contenders.

Even without Nigerian striker Victor Boniface, the table-toppers rushed to a routine victory, which turned into a much easier task when Koln's Jan Thielmann was deservedly sent off for a reckless foul on former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka in the first half.

Jeremie Frimpong then opened the scoring before Alex Grimaldo's low strike made it 2-0 near the end of the second half.

This win was a genuine milestone for Xabi Alonso as Leverkusen coach now has won 33 of his first 50 Bundesliga games, with only Hansy Flick (40) and Pep Guardiola (42) managing to record more victories in the same period.

BUNDESLIGA

Friday

Freiburg - Bayern Munich 2-2 (1-1)

/Gunter 12, Holer 87 - Tel 35, Musiala 75/

Saturday

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

/Pieringer 59 - Gimber 39 og, Nkounkou 49/

Union Berlin - Dortmund 0-2 (0-1)

/Adeyemi 41, Maatsen 90/

Bochum - RB Leipzig 1-4 (1-1)

/Wittek 7 - Olmo 30, Openda 68, Ordets 71 og, Poulsen 73/

Mainz - M' gladbach 1-1 (1-0)

/Burkardt 12 - Ngoumou 55/

Darmstadt - Augsburg 0-6 (0-5)

/Tietz 2, 84, Jensen 12, Demirovic 20, 29, Vargas 25/

Wolfsburg - Stuttgart 2-3 (0-1)

/Maehle 50, Nmecha 83 - Guirassy 14, 54 pen, Vagnoman 77/

Sunday

Koln - Leverkusen 0-2 (0-1)

/Frimpong 37, Grimaldo 73/

Hoffenheim - Werder 2-1 (2-0)

/Beier 8, 44 - Alvero 90/