Alonso cautious and Leverkusen not celebrating yet

Bayer Leverkusen are close to a domestic double in the Bundesliga and German Cup but coach Xabi Alonso has warned that nothing is decided yet as he recalled the ghosts of the past.

Unbeaten in all their 40 season matches, Leverkusen visit Union Berlin on Saturday with a 13-point Bundesliga lead. They return to Berlin for the May 25 Cup final where they are big favourites against second division Kaiserslautern.

Leverkusen are also in the Europa League quarter-finals and Alonso told reporters on Friday that "the situation is very good at the moment. We can achieve big goals in all competitions.

"We are in a position where we can win something. But it is not over until it is over. In football, many things can happen," he said.

Leverkusen have not lifted a trophy since the 1993 German Cup title, with several near misses including three lost Cup finals and five Bundesliga runner-up finishes - which earned them the dubious Neverkusen distinction.

In 2000, they lost at relegated Unterhaching on the final matchday as Bayern Munich took the Bundesliga trophy.

Two years later, Leverkusen blew a five-point league lead in the last three matches, with Borussia Dortmund finishing top, and over the next 11 days also lost the German Cup and Champions League finals against Schalke and Real Madrid, respectively.

"The fans recall Unterhaching and the past. They are patient. We want to celebrate when there is something to celebrate," Alonso said.

"The goal is clear. There are still seven league games left. We want to take the next step in Berlin," he said.

Alonso has a full squad to chose from at mid-table Union who he named "a strong, physical team, but also good with the ball. We have to be ready from the kick-off."

Should Leverkusen avoid defeat they will equal Bayern Munich's Bundesliga record from 10 years ago of going unbeaten in the first 28 matches of a season.

Depending on Saturday's results Leverkusen could clinch the league title as early as the following weekend.

Leverkusen mayor Uwe Richrath has pledged a huge title celebration but that may well have to wait until the end of May - after the May 22 Europa League final and German Cup final three days later.

That is not only because the team can achieve a treble but also because - in the absence of a city hall balcony - the celebration will likely be in the club's stadium where the team play their last Bundesliga game on May 18.

"If we really manage to do that, it will go down in the city's history. I'm convinced that we'll then have a big party," Richrath told dpa.

Richrath said preparations were necessary even though he was "a little supersticious" and doesn't want to talk too much about possible titles.

"We are in a close exchange with the club and try to plan everything well. I am convinced that we will have a good event," the mayor said.