Victor Boniface scored two goals as Bayer Leverkusen defeated Hoffenheim 4-1, bouncing back from a rare Bundesliga defeat. Meanwhile, Leipzig dropped points for the first time this season with a 0-0 draw against Union Berlin on Saturday.
Before their Champions League opener against Feyenoord on Thursday, Leverkusen returned to winning form after losing 3-2 to Leipzig in their previous game. That loss was their first Bundesliga defeat in 15 months under Xabi Alonso’s title-winning team.
Boniface assisted Martin Terrier with Leverkusen’s first goal, scoring himself by getting past defender Alexander Prass and goalkeeper Oliver Baumann.
Xabi Alonso instructs the player from the sidelinesLeverkusen’s three league games this season have seen a total of 15 goals, partly due to defensive mistakes that have frustrated coach Alonso.
Hoffenheim’s Mergim Berisha scored in the 37th minute to make it 2-1, and Leverkusen nearly conceded another goal soon after. However, after the break, Leverkusen regained control with a penalty from Florian Wirtz and another goal from Boniface, securing the 4-1 victory.
This was the first time Boniface scored twice in a game since he was sidelined by an adductor muscle injury during the second half of last season, which affected his contributions as Leverkusen won the title.
