Defending champion Bayer Leverkusen roared back from its first Bundesliga defeat in a stunning 35 games, crushing Hoffenheim 4-1 on Saturday. Victor Boniface, with a brace, was the star of the show, providing a much-needed confidence boost for Xavi Alonso’s side ahead of their Champions League opener against Feyenoord next Tuesday in Rotterdam.
The match saw a thrilling back-and-forth, with Frenchman Martin Terrier giving Hoffenheim a deserved early lead with his first Bundesliga goal. Boniface then showcased his skills, dancing past defenders to equalize before adding a second goal, accompanied by a celebratory dance inspired by a TikTok trend from Nigeria. Mergim Berisha managed to pull one back for Hoffenheim, but Leverkusen ultimately controlled the game, with Florian Wirtz converting a penalty before Boniface added a final goal to secure the victory.
Meanwhile, Leipzig’s perfect start to the season was halted after a frustrating 0-0 draw against Union Berlin. The match was played in a tense atmosphere, with both sides missing their head coaches due to suspension (Marco Rose) and illness (Bo Svensson). Despite dominating possession, Leipzig couldn’t find a way through Union’s stubborn defense, with Frederik Ronnow in the Union goal pulling off several impressive saves, including one from a Lois Openda penalty.
Elsewhere, Frankfurt secured a 2-1 victory over Wolfsburg, with Omar Marmoush scoring a goal in each half against his former club. Stuttgart finally secured its first win of the season, beating Borussia Moenchengladbach 3-1 thanks to two goals in quick succession from Ermedin Demirovic. Freiburg also celebrated a 2-1 win over Bochum, with Junior Adamu scoring a brace.
Bayern Munich, on a perfect run of form, will aim to extend its winning streak on Saturday when it travels to face newly-promoted Holstein Kiel. The Bavarians will be looking to avoid a repeat of their shock penalty loss to Kiel in the German Cup in January 2021.
