What do you guys think of Leverkusen getting a proper beating from Atalanta and ending their 51 games without a loss streak? Will this affect their performance next season? Do you consider them to be the favourite to defend their title (if no major changes to the team are made)?
I think it was a sobering reality check and a signal that they need to continue working hard to repeat their success and nothing will be given to them for free. There was almost something magical about their undefeated streak, especially given the 3 recent 90+ minute equalisers, which could create an impression that there's some higher power behind them preventing them from losing. They might have believed it a little bit too much and got a cold shower.
Leverkusen have ended their unbeaten record at the hands of Atlanta, Leverkusen's defeat of course surprised many people and now many are starting to doubt whether Leverkusen will be able to compete in the Champions League next season, currently Leverkusen has one more final match for them to face against Kaiserslautern in the final dfb pokal, leverkusen had to bury their dream of winning the treble after being destroyed by atlanta and now of course their mission is only to get the dfb pokal trophy to ensure double winners at the end of the season, currently i think leverkusen must immediately get up to forget their failure in the league final Europe and focus on facing Kaiserslautern which might also make things difficult for them in the final match.
Their defeat in the European League final has broken the unbeaten record they are currently maintaining, but I think for next season their performance in the Bundesliga will not change drastically if they are able to show their game and performance like this season, but reportedly some of their main players currently they are starting to be targeted by big clubs so perhaps retaining the championship trophy will be difficult for them, let alone maintaining an unbeaten record of course impossible, Alonso currently only needs to maintain Leverkusen main squad to remain in the team next season if they still want to be title challenger.