Bayer Leverkusen are reaping the benefit of Xabi Alonso's coaching. They showed their resilient side on Sunday with a 2-0 win over direct rivals Leipzig, who dropped out of the Bundesliga's top four and the qualification places for the Champions League. Goals from Adam Hlozek and a late penalty from Nadiem Amiri secured Leverkusen's win and stretched their unbeaten run to 13 games across all competitions. Leverkusen also reached the Europa League semi-finals on Thursday with a 4-1 win at Union Saint-Gilloise in what has been a remarkable turnaround. Leverkusen were second from bottom in the Bundesliga with just five points from the opening eight rounds when former Spain star Alonso was appointed coach in place of the fired Gerardo Seoane. Leipzig played well for long periods but found no answer to the home team's resolute defending or ability to surge forward thanks to the speed of its attackers. Hlozek scored five minutes before the break when Robert Andrich played a perfectly weighted through ball for Moussa Diaby to race onto on the right. Diaby whipped in a cross behind Leipzig's defenders for the incoming Hlozek to side-foot inside the left post. Hlozek was playing in place of Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz, watching from the stands after complaining of stomach problems. Timo Werner, Dominik Szoboszlai and Christopher Nkunku all went close for Leipzig, who pushed hard for an equaliser until Szoboszlai conceded the penalty in the 85th for bringing down Jeremie Frimpong. Amiri duly sealed the result from the spot. Freiburg earlier strengthened their case for Champions League qualification with a 4-0 rout of relegation-threatened Schalke. Michael Gregoritsch scored twice for the home team to move third before Union Berlin's visit to Borussia Monchengladbach for the final game of the 29th round later. Leverkusen are six points behind Freiburg with five rounds remaining. Australian Associated Press