It is fair to say that Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga success has captured a lot of people’s imagination. It has certainly resulted in a lot of very good writing, so much that I felt it merited a special issue of Cultured Football.
Bayer Leverkusen: How Xabi Alonso's unbeaten juggernaut halted Bayern Munich
By Constantin Eckner for the BBC
For the first time in over 4,000 days, Bayern Munich are no longer champions of German football. And it has taken a truly incredible team to overtake them.
‘It’s Bayer Leverkusen time’: Alonso’s historic title has changed club for ever
By Andy Brassell for The Guardian
“Now, under Alonso…victory feels inevitable.” What a line, what a story!
How Xabi Alonso finally found the antidote to Bayer’s Neverkusen jibes
By Matt Ford for The Observer
It is fair to say that Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga success has captured a lot of people’s imagination. It has certainly resulted in a lot of very good writing, so much that I felt it merited a special issue of Cultured Football.
Xabi Alonso is the man who has transformed the club into national champions. Yet he is not the only one who has contributed to this success. Make no mistake, this is a success that has many architects.
Bayer Leverkusen win the title: Xabi Alonso’s achievement ranks among the great seasons in European football
By Adam Bate for SkySports
Does Xabi Alonso’s success rank among some of the sport’s greats? Probably.
We Need to Talk About Granit Xhaka
By Brian McDonnell for The Analyst
Want to know what would have sounded more improbable last summer than Bayer Leverkusen winning the title? That Granit Xhaka would emerge as a pivotal figure, a calming mix of tenacity, skill and experience. Yet, here we are.
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Florian Wirtz - Scouting report created with the first football specific A.I
By
forThis is a curiosity (as well as a glimpse into the future) more than particularly great writing. For the past months twelve.football have been working on a language model that among other things can prepare scouting reports about players. This is its output on Florian Wirtz. Not the most eloquent but very detailed. And the comparison with James Maddison in the final paragraph is brutal.
Three architects of a legendary campaign to topple Bayern Munich
By Vatsal Gupta for Foot the Ball
This is notable largely because it picks on the importance of full-back in Leverkusen’s success.
Every Saturday, Cultured Football brings you five great football articles you will enjoy reading.
In Conclusion…
…some memorable tweets…
Get it? *
If you thought the job of a commentators is easy or straightforward, think again.
*Bayer Leverkusen are backed by Bayer AG, a German multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company .