Defending Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen bounced back emphatically from their first defeat in 35 league games, thrashing Hoffenheim 4-1 on Saturday. Victor Boniface was the star of the show, netting twice to help secure the win.
The victory is a timely boost for Xabi Alonso’s side, who will kick off their Champions League campaign next Tuesday against Feyenoord in Rotterdam.
Leverkusen started strong, with French winger Martin Terrier opening the scoring with his first Bundesliga goal, putting the visitors in control. Boniface then dazzled as he danced through defenders to double Leverkusen’s lead. Hoffenheim’s Mergim Berisha briefly threatened a comeback with a goal of his own, but the hosts could not match Leverkusen’s firepower.
Boniface, whose celebration dance drew attention, explained its origins: “It comes from a Tiktok trend in Nigeria, and a friend asked me to do it after I scored.”
Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz made it 3-1 by converting a penalty, and Boniface added his second goal with a composed finish to seal the victory.
Hoffenheim’s goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, making his 464th Bundesliga appearance—tying the legendary Lothar Matthäus—made several impressive saves, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the rout.
Leipzig Frustrated in Goalless Draw
Elsewhere, RB Leipzig were held to a 0-0 draw by Union Berlin despite dominating the match. Leipzig hit the woodwork through Xavi Simons, and Union goalkeeper Frederik Rønnow was in fine form, saving a penalty from Lois Openda and a David Raum free kick.
Both teams were without their head coaches on the touchline, with Leipzig’s Marco Rose suspended and Union’s Bo Svensson sidelined due to illness.
Other Bundesliga Results
In other matches, Eintracht Frankfurt edged past Wolfsburg 2-1, with Omar Marmoush scoring twice to haunt his former club. Stuttgart earned their first win of the season, beating Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-1, thanks to a quick-fire second-half brace from Ermedin Demirovic. Deniz Undav had earlier given Stuttgart the lead, with Alassane Pléa equalizing for Gladbach before Stuttgart’s late surge.
Junior Adamu’s double powered Freiburg to a 2-1 win over Bochum, who had scored their first goal of the season but couldn’t hold on for a result.
Later in the day, Bayern Munich maintained their perfect start to the season with a resounding 6-1 away win over newly-promoted Holstein Kiel.