3-0 against Frankfurt – going into new year as league leaders

Bayer 04 will be top of the tree at Christmas after winning 3-0 at home to Eintracht Frankfurt on Bundesliga Matchday 15. It means they also remain unbeaten this season after their 24th match in all competitions. The goals for Leverkusen were scored by Victor Boniface in the first half as well as Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz after the break. The result ensures that the Werkself, who host VfL Bochum in their final game of 2023 on Wednesday, will go into the new year as league leaders. The advantage over FC Bayern Munich, who had played two games fewer when the final whistle went at the BayArena, is currently seven points.

Head coach Xabi Alonso made eight changes from the side that started in the 5-1 win against Molde FK in the last Europe League group game on Thursday, with only Jonathan Tah, Edmond Tapsoba and Jonas Hofmann keeping their places. After being welcomed onto the field by the fans with an impressive tifo, the Werkself immediately looked to take control of the game with over two-thirds of the possession in the opening quarter of an hour. Both teams got stuck in and Exequiel Palacios collected his fifth yellow card of the campaign early on, meaning he'll be suspended for the meeting with Bochum on Wednesday.

FIRST CHANCE, FIRST GOAL: Boniface CLINICAL

After the early exchanges, the hosts began to show more attacking intent and took the lead with the first chance in the 14th minute. Victor Boniface cut in from the left towards the penalty area and found the far bottom corner with a low shot from 16 metres. While the Werkself played more of the football, SGE opted for a more physical approach and got their first real chance after 28 minutes, but Tuta's attempt from close range was thwarted by a last-ditch tackle from Tah. At the other end, Alejandro Grimaldo's direct free kick skimmed just over the target in the 35th minute. There were no further attacking situations before the break, meaning the Werkself had a narrow lead to show for their superiority after the first 45 minutes.

Frimpong and Wirtz EXTEND LEAD

The first opportunity of the second half fell six minutes in to Florian Wirtz, whose shot was just a metre too wide to the left. But just one minute later, Jeremie Frimpong had more joy as he tapped in the rebound from a Boniface effort that was saved by SGE goalkeeper Kevin Trapp. It only took another five minutes for Wirtz to then make it 3-0 with a delightful lob over Trapp from Boniface's pass. The hosts were fully in control now, and Lukas Hradecky ensured it stayed that way with a save from Fares Chaibi's shot in the 71st minute. Shortly after that Patrik Schick entered the fray - and almost immediately had a chance with a header. In the final 10 minutes, both Wirtz and substitute Piero Hincapie hit the woodwork, while Bayer 04 also had a penalty retracted by VAR in added time. So it finished in a deserved 3-0 victory following another impressive display by Alonso's men.

LOOKING AHEAD: FINISHING AGAINST BOCHUM

Bochum are the visitors to the BayArena for the Werkself's third home match in a row - and their final fixture of the calendar year. Kick-off is at 20:30 CET on Wednesday 20 December, before a well-earned Christmas break.

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Hradecky – Kossounou, Tah, Tapsoba - Frimpong (Tella 82'), Xhaka, Palacios (Hincapie 82'), Grimaldo - Hofmann (Hlozek 82'), Wirtz (Amiri 87') - Boniface (Schick 72')

Frankfurt: Trapp - Tuta, Koch (Smolcic 64'), Pacho - Buta, Dina Ebimbe (Hauge 72'), Larsson (Baum 72'), Nkounkou - Knauff, M. Götze (Skhiri 64') - Chaibi (Ngankam 82')

Goals: 1-0 Boniface (14'), 2-0 Frimpong (52'), 3-0 Wirtz (57')

Referee: Christian Dingert (Lebecksmühle)

Yellow cards: Palacios / Götze

Attendance: 30,210 (sold out) at the BayArena