Xabi Alonso's high-flying Bayer Leverkusen have fought back in a 1-1 draw at surprise team VfB Stuttgart to go four points clear at the top of the Bundesliga and they're now the only unbeaten side in Europe's top five leagues.
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Chris Fuhrich opened the scoring for the dominant hosts in the 40th minute but Leverkusen raised their game after the break and were level in the 47th from fellow Germany player Florian Wirtz.
Leverkusen are four points ahead of champions Bayern Munich, who crashed 5-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday for their first league defeat, but the champions have a game in hand.
Leverkusen are yet to lose in all competitions this season in an unbeaten run of 22 games.
Stuttgart are another point back in third ahead of a trip to Bayern next Sunday, with Leverkusen facing Frankfurt the same day.
"It was an interesting game with two very different halves. There was a lot of negatives in the first and a lot of positivity from the second," said Alonso, admitting he had to raise his voice at halftime.
"We weren't organised well in the first half and not aggressive enough. In the second half, we had more control and created chances. In the end, the draw is fair."
In the other Sunday game, Mainz moved off the bottom of the table at the expense of Darmstadt by playing out a 0-0 draw at third-bottom Cologne.
Australian Associated Press
