Leverkusen back to winning ways with Hoffenheim thumping

Champions Bayer Leverkusen cruised to a 4-1 victory at Hoffenheim on Saturday thanks to a dazzling performance by Victor Boniface that included two goals and an assist.

Leverkusen, who face Feyenoord at the start of the Champions League campaign next week, bounced back after losing to RB Leipzig just before the international break for what was their first domestic defeat in more than a season.

On Saturday they took control quickly and struck twice in the first half-hour, with Boniface twice beating the offside trap to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.

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The Nigeria international first set up Martin Terrier for a tap-in after 17 minutes and then scored himself in the 30th.

Hoffenheim's Mergim Berisha, making his first appearances since a knee ligament tear last November, cut the deficit in the 37th minute and had another chances for a second goal a little later.

Leverkusen, however, never lost control of the game and restored their two-goal lead courtesy of a Florian Wirtz penalty in the 72nd minute.

Boniface then single-handedly dismantled the Hoffenheim defence with a strong run down the left, powering a shot past keeper Oliver Baumann in the 75th to lift Leverkusen to fourth place on six points.

"It was an important test for us to not concede a second goal after going 2-0 up," said coach Xabi Alonso, whose team had lost 3-2 at home to Leipzig after going 2-0 in front.

"We reacted well and this time we controlled the game better and were more stable until the end. We know we will get our chances if we are patient and that is what we have to patiently work towards."

Borussia Dortmund are top on seven points, with Bayern Munich, on six, visiting Holstein Kiel later on Saturday.