Bayer Leverkusen secured a crucial 3-1 victory over 1899 Hoffenheim on Sunday afternoon, reinforcing their Bundesliga title ambitions and maintaining their momentum in the race against league leaders Bayern Munich.
With this win, Xabi Alonso’s side ensured that they remain within striking distance, keeping the gap at six points while extending their lead over third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt to eight points.
Right from the start, Die Werkself imposed themselves on the game, dominating possession and pressing aggressively. Their early intensity paid off, as they wasted no time in taking the lead. Victor Boniface opened the scoring in the 15th minute, capitalizing on a costly mistake by Hoffenheim goalkeeper Luca Philipp, who fumbled a routine save and allowed the Nigerian forward to slot home easily. The early goal set the tone for Leverkusen, who continued to push forward, overwhelming Hoffenheim’s defensive setup. Just five minutes later, Jeremie Frimpong doubled Leverkusen’s lead in clinical fashion. The Dutch wing-back, who has been a key player under Alonso, was sent through on goal and kept his composure to finish calmly past Philipp, putting his team in firm control with a 2-0 lead before the 20-minute mark.
Hoffenheim struggled to find their footing against Leverkusen’s aggressive pressing and fluid attacking play. The visitors attempted to slow the game down and maintain possession, but they lacked the creativity to break down the home side’s organized defensive structure. Despite Hoffenheim’s efforts, Leverkusen remained in charge, dictating the tempo and limiting their opponents to half-chances. Any hopes of a comeback for Hoffenheim were crushed early in the second half when Patrik Schick effectively put the game to bed. Just five minutes after the restart, the Czech striker latched onto a precise delivery and unleashed a powerful finish to make it 3-0. It was a goal that showcased Schick’s instinctive finishing ability and underlined the dominance of Alonso’s team.
However, the game took an unexpected turn just after the hour mark. Leverkusen’s smooth control of the match was disrupted when Alejandro Grimaldo was shown a second yellow card, reducing the home side to ten men. The sending-off provided Hoffenheim with a glimmer of hope, and they quickly capitalized on their numerical advantage. Less than a minute after Grimaldo’s dismissal, substitute Gift Orban made an instant impact, scoring with one of his first touches to bring the score to 3-1. It was a well-taken goal that briefly shifted momentum in Hoffenheim’s favor, sparking belief that they could mount a late comeback.
Despite being a man down, Leverkusen showed resilience and tactical discipline to withstand Hoffenheim’s pressure. The visitors controlled possession for much of the final half-hour, but their inability to convert dominance into clear-cut chances proved costly. Leverkusen’s defensive structure held firm, frustrating Hoffenheim’s attacking players and limiting them to speculative efforts. Even with the numerical advantage, Hoffenheim struggled to break through, and their push for a second goal never materialized.
With the final whistle, Leverkusen emerged victorious, solidifying their position as the undisputed second-place team in the Bundesliga after 20 matches. Their ability to secure the win despite the late adversity highlighted the maturity and determination of Alonso’s squad. The result keeps them well within the title race, ensuring that Bayern Munich cannot afford to slip up in the coming weeks.
Looking ahead, Leverkusen faces a demanding schedule as they continue their pursuit of domestic success. Up next is a highly anticipated DFB-Pokal derby clash against FC Köln on Wednesday, followed by a challenging away fixture against VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday. As the season progresses, maintaining consistency will be crucial for Alonso’s men if they are to sustain their challenge for the Bundesliga title and push Bayern all the way.