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.
Leverkusen’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.
