Diaby double helps Schick-less Leverkusen to Bielefeld win

Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 Arminia Bielefeld
Goals: 1-0 Alario 30' (assist: Paulinho), 2-0 Diaby 57' (assist: Wirtz), 3-0 Diaby 82'

Leverkusen delivered the perfect response to their 3-2 loss in Mainz a week ago, locking down possession and creating a procession of goal-scoring chances. Paulinho spurned the first two when one-on-one with Stefan Ortega, before Lucas Alario headed a Mitchel Bakker cross narrowly wide. Ortega kept Paulinho at bay twice more following wave after wave of defence-splitting Leverkusen play, but was powerless to prevent the hosts forging ahead on the half-hour. Paulinho miscued Jeremie Frimpong's low cross, with Alario sweeping in the follow-up from close range. Arminia mustered a repsonse of sorts as Fabian Kunze arrowed agonisingly wide, but were indebted to the face of Ortega for denying Alario his second of a one-sided first half.

Bielefeld were much improved following the restart, with substitute Bryan Lasme making Lukas Hradecky work at his near post. That chance came hot on the heels of a disallowed Leverkusen goal, Alario having been caught a fraction offside when he collected Paulinho's audacious chipped pass, before rounding Ortega. Arminia asked further questions of the hosts as Alessandro Schöpf tested Hradecky from distance, only for Leverkusen to stretch their lead with their next attack. Running from deep, Diaby exchanged passes with Florian Wirtz, rode a few challenges in the box and made no mistake with his finish from inside the box. Hradecky made a crucial save at the feet of Masaya Okugawa, before Diaby sealed the deal, firing in off the inside of the upright, as Bayer consolidated third place.

• Alario scored in back-to-back games for the first time this season. He has three goals for the current league campaign.
• Diaby has 12 goals for the campaign, including seven in his last five outings.
• Leverkusen are unbeaten at home in their last seven outings (five wins, two draws).
• Bayer have claimed seven points in four league games without Schick in the side.
• Seoane's team have scored at least twice in their last six home Bundesliga matches in a row.
• Half-time substitute Gonzalo Castro was at Leverkusen from 1999 to 2015 and scored 25 goals in 286 Bundesliga games for Die Werkself.

Watch: Hradecky: "I've never seen Diaby in better form!"

Leverkusen: Hradecky (c) - Frimpong (Fosu-Mensah 76'), Tah (Kossounou 86'), Tapsoba, Bakker (Hincapie 82') - Aranguiz, Palacios (Demirbay 76') - Diaby (Adli 82'), Wirtz, Paulinho - Alario
Unused subs: Grill, Lomb, Sinkgraven, Andrich
Out: Azmoun (knee), Baumgartlinger (match fitness), Bellarabi (hamstring), Lunev (ankle), Schick (calf)
Coach: Gerardo Seoane 

Bielefeld: Ortega (c) - de Medina, Ramos, Nilsson, Laursen - Kunze, Vasiliadis (Castro 46') - Wimmer (Hack 76'), Schöpf (Krüger 86'), Okugawa (Bello 76') - Serra (Lasme 46')
Unused subs: Kapino, Pieper, Andrade, Klos
Out: Brunner (ill), Prietl (ill)
Coach: Frank Kramer