The 2022-23 campaign was a season of dramatic, mid-season transformation for Bayer Leverkusen as the arrival of manager Xabi Alonso in October sparked a remarkable resurgence. After a turbulent start, Die Werkself surged up the table to claim a crucial 6th-place finish in the Bundesliga, securing a coveted European spot. Spearheading the attack was the electric winger Moussa Diaby, whose 9 league goals, 14 across all competitions, proved vital. The season's defining chapter was an inspired run to the UEFA Europa League Semi-finals, where they narrowly fell to Roma, a campaign that saw the emergence of the brilliant Florian Wirtz, who was named the tournament's Best Young Player, cementing this as a pivotal year that laid the foundation for future success.