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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Xhaka fooled Leverkusen bench with celebration</li><li>Scored a stunning goal against Mainz</li><li>Leverkusen extended their lead over Bayern to 11 points</li></ul>

VIDEO: Granit Xhaka fools Xabi Alonso & entire Bayer Leverkusen bench with hilarious fake injury celebration after scoring stunning goal to help Bundesliga leaders pull even further clear of Bayern

The former Arsenal midfielder opened the scoring for his team in the third minute against Mainz with a stunning strike from the edge of the box. After breaking the deadlock, Xhaka was seen clutching his hamstring. Alonso and the entire Bayer Leverkusen bench had worried looks on their faces, but the former Arsenal star then perked up and performed a dance to show he was actually still fine physically, prompting a huge collective sigh of relief.

WHAT HAPPENED?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Granit Xhaka, TAKE A BOW! 🔥 That celebration too 😅 <a href="https://t.co/6HYZUWSIFW">pic.twitter.com/6HYZUWSIFW</a>— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkyFootball/status/1761113364107825576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

WATCH THE CLIP

Four minutes after the Swiss midfielder scored the opening goal, Dominik Kohr equalised for Mainz, but the hosts then restored their lead in the 68th minute as Robert Andrich netted the winning goal for the Bundesliga leaders. With the win on Friday, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/xabi-alonso-bayer-leverkusen-break-bayern-munich-bundesliga-unbeaten-record-victory-mainz/blt6e9225320820e8d6" target="_blank">Alonso's side have now extended their lead over Bayern Munich to 11 points</a> at the top of the table.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Leverkusen, who remain unbeaten in the league, will be next seen in action on March 3 when they take on FC Koln in another Bundesliga fixture. Alonso is winning plaudits across Europe for the great job he's doing at Bay Arena, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/europe-most-wanted-xabi-alonso-reject-bayern-munich-add-to-liverpool-legend/blta11bc2a42c6d7adb" target="_blank">and has been linked with the top job at both Bayern and Liverpool</a>.

WHAT NEXT FOR BAYER LEVERKUSEN?

VIDEO: Granit Xhaka fools Xabi Alonso & entire Bayer Leverkusen bench with hilarious fake injury celebration after scoring stunning goal to help Bundesliga leaders pull even further clear of Bayern | Goal.com English Saudi Arabia

Granit Xhaka had the entire Bayer Leverkusen bench fooled, including manager Xabi Alonso, with a fake injury celebration against Mainz.

VIDEO: Granit Xhaka fools Xabi Alonso &amp; entire Bayer Leverkusen bench with hilarious fake injury celebration after scoring stunning goal to help Bundesliga leaders pull even further clear of Bayern