Three rounds into the Bundesliga season, it is not Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund that tops the table. Bayer Leverkusen, which barely escaped relegation last season, is the only team with a perfect record.
It could be another curious turnaround for the team that earned the dubious distinction of being known as "Neverkusen."
Two seasons ago, Leverkusen went to the Champions League final, the final of the German Cup and was in the running for the Bundesliga title until the final round. It ended up empty-handed.
The mental shock of coming up short on all three fronts seemed to have been too great for the team to overcome last season. Not to mention the void left by the departure of midfield stars Michael Ballack and Ze Roberto.
Throughout the season, Leverkusen languished at the bottom and appeared headed for the second division with its collection of international stars.
With two rounds to go, Leverkusen made a desperate move. Klaus Augenthaler came in as the team's third coach of the season. The former Bayern Munich international guided the team to two wins in the final two games and Leverkusen was saved.
With three straight victories in the new season, Augenthaler now has a 5-0 record. His team also leads the Bundesliga with 10 goals, for two conceded.
"He found the right balance," said goalkeeper Hans-Joerg Butt. "There is no room for euphoria, but if we continue to play with such concentration, we can beat everyone."
Often using as many as five offensive players, Augenthaler has revived Leverkusen's exciting, attack-minded style of two seasons ago.
"This is the kind of style that is tailor-made for us," said striker Oliver Neuville.
Neuville had four goals the entire last season. Now he already has three and looks like becoming a starter in the German national team again.
He is not the only one to blossom under Augenthaler. Franca, a Brazilian striker written off by many last season as a failed investment of US$9 million, had one goal and two assists to go with Neuville's two goals in a 4-0 drubbing of Hannover 96 on Saturday.
He rarely made the team last season.
Franca was praised by soccer writers across Germany, with many calling it his best game for Leverkusen. Kicker magazine named him man of the match.
"It was a perfect game for me," Franca said.
"The fans here will now see what kind of player I am."
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