Hofmann and Boniface star as Leverkusen down West Ham

Goals: 1-0 Hofmann (9'), 2-0 Boniface (23'), 3-0 Boniface (37'), 4-0 Andrich (pen, 70')

This was Leverkusen's final pre-season game before getting their Bundesliga campaign underway against RB Leipzig in two weeks - with a DFB Cup first round meeting with Teutonia Ottensen in between - and Xabi Alonso named something approaching a full-stregth side, with Hofmann handed his first start at the BayArena since joining from Borussia Mönchengladbach. He wasted little time in impressing, curling an early free-kick in off Lukasz Fabianski's far post. It was 2-0 soon after, when Amine Adli beck-heeled into Hofmann's path before he squared for Boniface to double the lead. Boniface then hit a stunning volley after Florian Wirtz's chip, allaying any fears some may have had as to his ability to replace the injured Patrick Schick.

West Ham moved to a back five at the break and began to look a bit more sure of themselves, with Tomas Soucek heading a Jarrod Bowen corner back off Lukas Hradecky's crossbar midway through the half. But Bayer would have the final say when Boniface was brought down in the box and Robert Andrich - hitherto sidelined with a broken foot - stepped up to thump home the resulting penalty. Granit Xhaka - who was effectively replaced by West Ham's Declan Rice at Arsenal this summer - went off to a standing ovation late on. He was followed by Wirtz, whom Die Werkself hope hasn't picked up a knock after a clumsy Conor Coventry challenge.  

• New Leverkusen man Xhaka won 10 of his 14 meetings with West Ham as an Arsenal player.
• Xhaka is one of five new faces at the BayArena this summer, alongside Boniface, Jonas Hofmann, Arthur and Alex Grimaldo.
• Jeremie Frimpong had eight goals and seven assists from right-back last season. Only Moussa Diaby, now of Aston Villa, enjoyed more (17 vs. 15).
• Alonso has a 45.95 win percentage since succeeding Gerardo Seoane as Bayer's head coach last October.
• West Ham defender Kehrer came through at Schalke, making 59 appearances in all competitions before moving to Paris Saint-Germain in 2018.
• Callum Hudson-Odoi, of West Ham's London rivals Chelsea, is the only Englishman to have played for Leverkusen, having spent last season on loan.

Teams

Leverkusen: Hradecky (c) - Frimpong, Tah, Tapsoba, Arthur - Palacios (Andrich 61'), Xhaka (Puerta 86') - Hofmann (Kossounou 61'), Wirtz (Amiri 87'), Adli (Mbamba 86') - Boniface (Hlozek 77')
Unused subs: Pentz, Fosu-Mensah, Monamay, Münz, Aourir
Out: Azmoun (calf), Schick (groin), Hincapie (broken foot)
Coach: Xavi Alonso  

West Ham: Fabianski (Areola 46') - Kehrer, Zouma (Aguerd 46'), Ogbonna (c), Emerson (Johnson 72') - Soucek, Downes (Coventry 75') - Bowen (Cornet 72'), Paqueta (Coufal 46'), Benrahma (Fornals 72') - Mubama (Antonio 46')
Unused subs: Anang, Ings
Out: -
Coach: David Moyes

As it happened