Head coach Xabi Alonso made three changes to his team that started the 3-2 loss at home to RB Leipzig prior to the international break. Lukas Hradecky returned in goal for Matej Kovar, while Robert Andrich and Nathan Tella came in for Aleix Garcia and Jeremie Frimpong.
The game was barely a minute old when a Hoffenheim mistake very nearly let in Wirtz as the Werkself dominated from the start. The ball was finally in the net after 17 minutes when Boniface squared for Terrier to tap in. The goal was initially ruled out for offside against the Nigerian before being confirmed on review and bringing the Frenchman his first Werkself goal.
Boniface was denied just before the half-hour mark but made no mistake shortly after when played through by Granit Xhaka, holding off a defender and slotting home at the near post from the right. However, the hosts had a response before the break when Berisha prodded home from close range. A potential equaliser from the same player just two minutes later was ruled out for offside. Boniface had the opportunity to restore the two-goal advantage on the verge of half-time but was denied by Oliver Baumann.
After a quiet start to the second half, Alonso introduced Frimpong for Tella, with Andrich and Terrier both having chances shortly after. The game burst back into life just after 70 minutes when Dennis Geiger brought down Wirtz. Originally it was given as outside the box, but a check deemed the foul to be inside. Wirtz then stepped up himself to convert the penalty and make it 3-1. Only a couple of minutes later, Boniface finally had his brace and Bayer 04’s fourth with a powerful left-footed effort from left of goal that beat Baumann at his near post. There were no more goals after that, but Nordi Mukiele was given his debut in Leverkusen colours and could enjoy the occasion with a win.
The Werkself are back in action on Thursday with their opening fixture of the new UEFA Champions League campaign away at Feyenoord in Rotterdam (kick-off: 6.45pm CEST). Wolfsburg are then the visitors to the BayArena in the Bundesliga on Sunday (3.30pm).
Match stats:
Hoffenheim: Baumann - Drexler (Bischof 76'), Stach, Akpoguma - Kaderabek, Grillitsch, Geiger, Prass (Gendrey 61') - Kramaric (Tohumcu 85') - Bülter (Moerstedt 85'), Berisha (Bruun Larsen 61')
Bayer 04: Hradecky - Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie (Mukiele 85') - Tella (Frimpong 56'), Xhaka, Andrich (Garcia 80'), Grimaldo - Terrier (Adli 80'), Wirtz - Boniface (Schick 85')
Goals: 0-1 Terrier (18'), 0-2 Boniface (30'), 1-2 Berisha (37'), 1-3 Wirtz (pen, 72'), 1-4 Boniface (75')
Yellow cards: Prass, Akpoguma, Matarazzo (coach) - Terrier, Andrich
Referee: Daniel Schlager
Attendance: 30,150 (sold out) at the PreZero Arena
There won’t just be plenty of excitement on the pitch as Bayer 04 host Borussia Dortmund at the BayArena at 18:30 CET on Saturday. Outside the stadium there will be collection points for food donations to the Leverkusen Foodbank, which will also benefit from the profits of a jersey raffle in the Fanwelt afterwards. There will also be a minute’s silence before kick-off following the passing of long-time Werkself player Dieter Herzog, before two fan clubs are honoured for their decades-long support at half-time and fans receive a talk about Orange Day, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
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Bayer 04 go into the first of two successive clashes with Borussia Dortmund boosted by their Champions League win at Manchester City. Ahead of the Bundesliga top match on Saturday, 29 November (kick-off: 18:30 CET), coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about the tight schedule, BVB's strengths and returning squad members.
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Borussia Dortmund are doing very well in terms of points and results in the Bundesliga, the DFB Pokal and the UEFA Champions League. BVB have only suffered two defeats to date this term. Now coach Niko Kovac's team are away to the Werkself on Saturday night, 29 November (kick-off: 18:30 CET) in the top match on Bundesliga matchday 12. The two teams meet again three days later in the DFB Pokal Round of 16 tie in Dortmund. Two very competitive encounters are on the cards. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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The Bayer 04 Women clcoked up a 3-2 win in a friendly against Twente Enschede on Thursday afternoon in the last international break of 2025. In drizzle, Lilla Turanyi (16’), Kristin Kögel (65’) and Paulina Bartz (69’) scored the goals for the Werkself against the Dutch Eredivisie Vrouwen leaders, who are still unbeaten in the league.
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