Leverkusen win keeps pressure on league leaders Bayern | OneFootball

Bayer Leverkusen weather Hoffenheim's late pressure in gripping 3-1 victory

Leverkusen 3-1 HoffenheimGoals: 1-0 Boniface 15’ (assist: Grimaldo), 2-0 Frimpong 19’ (assist: García), 3-0 Schick 51’, 3-1 Orban 62’Red card: Grimaldo 61’

The BayArena played host to an exhilarating Bundesliga clash as Bayer Leverkusen welcomed Hoffenheim. Victor Boniface marked his return to the starting lineup, while Hoffenheim were forced to make several changes due to injuries, including the reintroduction of Marius Bülter for his first start since late November.

Victor Boniface celebrates opening the scoring for Die Werkself on his first start since mid November, following his recovery from a thigh injury. (IMAGO/Gladys Chai von der Laage)

Leverkusen's lightning start

Leverkusen wasted no time asserting their dominance, with Boniface announcing his return in style. The Nigerian striker broke the deadlock in the 15th minute, latching onto a precise through ball from Alejandro Grimaldo and firing past Philipp with aplomb. Before Hoffenheim could regroup, Jeremie Frimpong doubled the lead just four minutes later. The Dutch dynamo was expertly picked out by Aleix García, and he made no mistake, slotting home to put Leverkusen firmly in control.

Frimpong doubled Leverkusen's advantage just four minutes after his side took the lead. (Lars Baron)

Historic VAR moment

The match took an unprecedented turn in the 23rd minute when referee Robin Braun pointed to the spot for a Leverkusen penalty after Jurásek appeared to foul Tella. However, after a VAR review, the decision was overturned due to an offside in the build-up. In a Bundesliga first, Braun announced the decision over the stadium loudspeakers, stating, "The penalty has been reviewed: According to the images, there was an offside. That's why the decision is: no penalty - offside!" This unique moment added another layer of excitement to an already eventful first half. Despite Hoffenheim's efforts to find a foothold in the game, Leverkusen maintained their two-goal advantage heading into the break.

Watch: Referee's stadium announcement

Gift Orban celebrates after scoring Hoffenheim's consolation goal, injecting late drama into the match. (Lars Baron)

Schick strikes, drama unfolds

The second half began with Patrik Schick replacing Boniface, and the Czech striker made an immediate impact. Just six minutes after his introduction, Schick found the back of the net, extending Leverkusen's lead to 3-0. The goal came from excellent build-up play, with debutant Emiliano Buendía showcasing his skills by dribbling past several Hoffenheim defenders before his initial shot was parried by Luca Philipp. Schick was quickest to react, calmly dispatching the rebound into the top-left corner. The game took a dramatic turn in the 61st minute when Grimaldo received his second yellow card, reducing Leverkusen to ten men. Hoffenheim capitalised on their numerical advantage almost immediately, with Gift Orban pulling a goal back in the 62nd minute, setting up a tense finale.

Leverkusen hold firm

Despite being a man down, Leverkusen showed great resilience in the closing stages. Hoffenheim pressed for further goals, with Tom Bischof orchestrating several attacks. However, the home side's defence, marshalled by the impressive Edmond Tapsoba, stood firm. Lukáš Hrádecký was called into action on several occasions, making crucial saves to preserve Leverkusen's two-goal cushion. As the final whistle blew, Xabi Alonso's men had successfully navigated a potentially tricky situation to secure all three points.

Player of the Match: Granit Xhaka

Granit Xhaka delivered a masterclass in midfield control, earning him the Man of the Match accolade. The Swiss international's composure and passing range were instrumental in Leverkusen's dominance, particularly in the first half. Xhaka completed an impressive number of passes, consistently finding teammates in dangerous positions. His pass efficiency rating of +7.93 was the highest in the match, highlighting his crucial role in Leverkusen's build-up play. Xhaka's ability to dictate the tempo of the game was particularly vital after Leverkusen were reduced to ten men, helping his side maintain control and see out the victory.

Bundesliga Match FactsxGoals: Hoffenheim 1.87 - Leverkusen 1.56Fastest player: Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen), 34.76 km/hLowest goal probability: 3-1 by Gift Orban (Hoffenheim), 97 percentMost pressed player: Tom Bischof (Hoffenheim), 29 times under pressurePass efficiency: Granit Xhaka (Bayer Leverkusen), +7.93

Fantasy Heroes: Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen, 327 Points), Aleix García (Bayer Leverkusen, 196 Points), Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen, 184 Points)

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