Mandatory win for Xhaka and Co. Leverkusen beat Hoffenheim and consolidate 2nd place

Jan Arnet

2.2.2025

Leverkusen bag a must-win against Hoffenheim.
Leverkusen bag a must-win against Hoffenheim.
Picture: Keystone

Leverkusen beat Hoffenheim 3:1 to remain "only" six points behind leaders Bayern Munich after the 20th round. The dream of defending the title is still alive.

Bayer Leverkusen remain six points behind leaders FC Bayern Munich after the 20th Bundesliga matchday. The German champions won 3:1 (2:0) against relegation-threatened TSG Hoffenheim at the end of the matchday.

Victor Boniface and Jeremie Frimpong provided the early 2:0 lead in the 15th and 19th minutes. Boniface was supposed to move to Saudi Arabia, but the transfer never materialized. Patrik Schick, who replaced him at the break, increased the lead to 3-0 in the 51st minute. Shortly after Bayer's Alejandro Grimaldo (61) was shown a yellow card, Gift Orban (62) reduced the deficit for Hoffenheim.

Referee Robin Braun provided a premiere in the first half. He was the first referee to explain a decision to the spectators in the stadium via microphone. Braun had previously withdrawn a penalty for Leverkusen due to an offside position after viewing video images.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Completed
3:1
(2:0)

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim

  • Victor Boniface - 1:0 (15.)
  • Jeremie Frimpong - 2:0 (19.)
  • Patrik Schick - 3:0 (51.)
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  • (62.) 3:1 - Gift Emmanuel Orban
  • Liveticker
    New posts
  • Liveticker closed
  • 90.+6.
    End of 2nd half
  • 90.+5.
    Yellow card Bayer 04 Leverkusen

    Aleix García

  • 84.
    Substitution in TSG 1899 Hoffenheim

    Alexander Prass

    Midfielder

  • 84.
    Substitution out TSG 1899 Hoffenheim

    Erencan Yardimci

    Striker

  • 83.
    Substitution in Bayer 04 Leverkusen

    Exequiel Palacios

    Midfielder

  • 83.
    Substitution out Bayer 04 Leverkusen

    Florian Wirtz

    Striker

  • 83.
    Substitution in Bayer 04 Leverkusen

    Arthur

    Defender

  • 83.
    Substitution out Bayer 04 Leverkusen

    Jeremie Frimpong

    Midfielder

  • 79.
    Yellow card Bayer 04 Leverkusen

    Jonathan Tah

  • 79.
    Yellow card TSG 1899 Hoffenheim

    Erencan Yardimci

  • 77.
    Yellow card TSG 1899 Hoffenheim

    Tom Bischof

  • 73.
    Substitution in TSG 1899 Hoffenheim

    David Mokwa

    Striker

  • 73.
    Substitution out TSG 1899 Hoffenheim

    Robin Hranác

    Defender

  • 67.
    Substitution in Bayer 04 Leverkusen

    Mario Hermoso

    Defender

  • 67.
    Substitution out Bayer 04 Leverkusen

    Emiliano Buendia

    Striker

  • 62.
    Goal for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, 3:1 through Gift Emmanuel Orban

    Gift Emmanuel Orban

    Striker

  • 62.
    Substitution in TSG 1899 Hoffenheim

    Stanley N'Soki

    Defender

  • 62.
    Substitution out TSG 1899 Hoffenheim

    Marius Bülter

    Midfielder

  • 62.
    Substitution in TSG 1899 Hoffenheim

    Gift Emmanuel Orban

    Striker

  • 62.
    Substitution out TSG 1899 Hoffenheim

    Dennis Geiger

    Midfielder

  • 61.
    Substitution in TSG 1899 Hoffenheim

    Hennes Behrens

    Defender

  • 61.
    Substitution out TSG 1899 Hoffenheim

    David Jurásek

    Defender

  • 61.
    Red card Bayer 04 Leverkusen (as a result of two yellow cards)

    Álex Grimaldo

  • 51.
    Goal for Bayer 04 Leverkusen, 3:0 through Patrik Schick

    Patrik Schick

    Striker

  • 46.
    Substitution in Bayer 04 Leverkusen

    Patrik Schick

    Striker

  • 46.
    Substitution out Bayer 04 Leverkusen

    Victor Boniface

    Striker

  • 46.
    Kick-off 2nd half
  • 45.+4.
    End of 1st half
  • 45.+2.
    Yellow card Bayer 04 Leverkusen

    Álex Grimaldo

  • 42.
    Substitution in Bayer 04 Leverkusen

    Emiliano Buendia

    Striker

  • 42.
    Substitution out Bayer 04 Leverkusen

    Nathan Tella

    Striker

  • 34.
    Yellow card TSG 1899 Hoffenheim

    Dennis Geiger

  • 19.
    Goal for Bayer 04 Leverkusen, 2:0 through Jeremie Frimpong (Aleix García)

    Jeremie Frimpong

    Midfielder

    Assist: Aleix García

    Midfielder

  • 15.
    Goal for Bayer 04 Leverkusen, 1:0 through Victor Boniface (Álex Grimaldo)

    Victor Boniface

    Striker

    Assist: Álex Grimaldo

    Midfielder

  • 1.
    Start of the match