Granit Xhaka. (X, Bayer Leverkusen)
Xhaka gave the home side an ideal start by scoring an absolute screamer in the third minute. After scoring the goal he was seen holding his left hamstring, instantly turning the joy of Xabi Alonso and his staff into fear. After a few seconds, Xhaka dropped the act and confirmed that it was a prank.
Bayer Leverkusen’s historic 2023-24 campaign continues to impress everyone as the Xabi Alonso-led side extended their lead at the top of the Bundesliga table to 11 points over 11-time defending champions Bayern Munich.
Leverkusen hosted relegation-threatened Mainz on Matchday 23 of the Bundesliga on Saturday, February 24, and ran out victors thanks to goals from former Arsenal star Granit Xhaka and his midfield partner Robert Andrich.
Xhaka gave the home side an ideal start by scoring an absolute screamer in the third minute. Their joy was short-lived though, as Mainz centre-back Dominik Kohr made it all square with a goal in the seventh minute. The two sides created chances, but it was Andrich whose shot in the 68th minute forced Mainz custodian Robin Zentner to make a mistake and hand Leverkusen a 2-1 lead.
As beautiful as Xhaka’s goal was, scoring a 25-yard beauty, his goal celebration deserved even more appreciation. It was an extremely hilarious moment in the game which must have given both the Bayer Leverkusen fans and the coach Xabi Alonso a mini heart attack.
After scoring the goal, Xhaka was seen holding his left hamstring, instantly turning the joy of Xabi Alonso and his staff into fear. It seemed like a costly trade-off on the outlook, given that Xhaka is one of the most crucial cogs of Alonso’s extremely well-oiled Bayer Leverkusen machine.
The players, though, didn’t look half as concerned as they had an ecstatic grin on their faces, especially right wing-back Jeremie Frimpong, who joined in on the act and imitated Xhaka’s goal celebration.
After a few seconds, Xhaka dropped the act and confirmed that it was a prank, giving a lot of relief to Alonso on the sidelines. The physios of the team were seen rushing onto the pitch after seeing the Swiss midfielder in agony, only for the former Arsenal man to fool the backroom staff with a joyous prank.
“I know Granit has done it before in training and it made me nervous then. The physio came to me but I just said ‘Relax’,” Alonso shed light on the goal celebration in the post-match presser.
Bayer Leverkusen registered their 19th win in the league to break Bayern Munich’s German record of 32 unbeaten games. Die Schwarzroten are now 33 games unbeaten in this season and are well on course to win the Bundesliga, while also keeping alive their hopes of winning the DFB-Pokal and the UEFA Europa League.