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
Bayer 04 Leverkusen has secured a new network partner in Extreme Networks GmbH. The leading provider of AI-powered network automation has agreed a five-year partnership with the Bundesliga club, running until 30 June 2031. As part of this, the club’s existing Wi-Fi 5 infrastructure will be replaced by more than 400 Wi-Fi 7 access points, which are specifically designed to meet the requirements of a stadium with a high user density. The aim is to enhance the fan experience while optimising operational processes and security.
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