Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Xabi Alonso’s team have already shattered several domestic records on their way to carving out a 16-point advantage at the top of the standings with six matches remaining, having not lost in a remarkable 42 games in all competitions.

LEVERKUSEN, Germany — Thirteen points up on their nearest pursuers, Bayern Munich, with seven games to go, Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen face their “most important game of the season” on Saturday against … Union Berlin, 12th in the table.

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Dortmund defeated Bayern 2-0 away in Der Klassiker to leave unbeaten Leverkusen just three wins away from winning the Bundesliga for the first time.

On Saturday, Manchester City thumped Liverpool in the Women’s Super League to extend their lead at the top of the table. In the Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen’s late comeback win and Bayern Munich’s loss to Borussia Dortmund has the title race all but sealed.

Xabi Alonso had a more-than-realistic chance of filling the managerial vacancy at Bayern Munich (league titles: 33, Champions League titles: 6, domestic cups: 20) or Liverpool (league titles: 19, Champions League titles: 6, domestic cups: 18) this summer. Instead, on Friday he announced that he’d stick around for at least another season at the helm of Bayer Leverkusen (league titles: 0, Champions League titles: 0, domestic cups: 1).

Alonso, who has led Leverkusen to the verge of their first Bundesliga title, told a news conference on Friday that he used the international break to consider his options and come to his own decision.

Alonso, a Champions League winner as a player with Liverpool in 2005, is on the verge of guiding Leverkusen to their first-ever Bundesliga title this season.

Liverpool, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, three of the biggest clubs in the world, have a few things in common. They are perennial contenders to win their domestic leagues, they’ve all won the Champions League over the past decade, and, oh yeah, as of this summer, all three of them need to hire a new coach.

Big statement, but demonstrably true.