Bundesliga
Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen bounced back from their first defeat in 15 months with a convincing 4-1 win over Hoffenheim on Saturday, featuring standout performances from Victor Boniface and Florian Wirtz.
Hoffenheim 1-4 Bayer Leverkusen
Goals: 0-1 Terrier 17' (assist: Boniface), 0-2 Boniface 30' (assist: Xhaka), 1-2 Berisha 37' (assist: Kramarić), 1-3 Wirtz (pen. 72'), 1-4 Boniface 74' (assist: Frimpong)
Leverkusen wasted no time asserting their dominance against Hoffenheim, with Martin Terrier breaking the deadlock in the 17th minute. The French forward capitalised on a swift counter-attack, slotting home after an unselfish assist from Boniface. The Nigerian striker then turned from provider to scorer, doubling Leverkusen's lead in the 30th minute with a powerful strike from just inside the box. Hoffenheim, however, showed resilience and managed to pull one back through Mërgim Berisha in the 37th minute. The goal injected life into the home side who nearly equalised moments later, only for Berisha's second effort to be ruled offside. As the half-time whistle blew Leverkusen held a 2-1 lead, but the match remained finely poised.
The second-half saw Leverkusen reassert their control over the match. Their superiority was reflected in the statistics, with the away side boasting a 93 percent pass accuracy. The turning point came in the 72nd minute when Wirtz coolly converted a penalty, extending Leverkusen's lead to 3-1. Any hopes of a Hoffenheim comeback were extinguished just three minutes later when Boniface scored his second of the match, an assured finish that showcased his growing reputation as one of the Bundesliga's most clinical finishers, to round out what was ultimately a comfortable victory.
Boniface recorded his first goals and first assist of the Bundesliga season here.
Terrier's goal was his first since joining Leverkusen over the summer.
Alonso's side have now found the net at least once in each of their last 19 Bundesliga away games – the longest such run of all current top-flight teams.
Berisha's goal was his first for Hoffenheim.
Kramarić has been involved in all five of Hoffenheim's goals this season, scoring four himself and providing the assist for Berisha here.
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Watch: Alonso: "Boniface creates a great atmosphere"
Hoffenheim: Baumann (c) - Drexler (Bischof 76'), Stach, Akpoguma - Kaderabek, Grillitsch, Geiger, Prass (Gendrey 61'), Kramarić (Tohumcu 87') - Berisha (Bruun Larsen 61'), Bülter (Moerstedt 87')
Unused subs: Philipp, Hranac, Nsoki, Tabaković
Out: Bebou (knee), Becker (knee), Hložek (thigh), Jurásek (arm), John (knee), Kabak (knee), Prömel (knee)
Coach: Pellegrino Matarazzo
Leverkusen: Hrádecký (c) - Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapié (Mukiele 86') - Tella (Frimpong 57'), Xhaka, Andrich (García 80'), Grimaldo - Wirtz, Terrier (Adli 80') - Boniface (Schick 86')
Unused subs: Kovář, Belocian, Arthur, Hofmann
Out: -
Coach: Xabi Alonso