Five-star Leverkusen crush Bochum
Playing with a slightly unorthodox double-pronged attack of Boniface and Schick, Leverkusen started brightly at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion. Philipp Hofmann almost latched onto Kevin Stöger's corner to give the breakthrough. However, the numerical advantage soon favoured Die Werkself. Edmond Tapsoba haired through on goal only for Felix Passlack to haul the centre-half to ground as arbiter Benjamin Brand flashed the red card his way.
Leverkusen eventually forged their opening goal in the 41st minute. Arthur cut infield to cross for Patrik Schick's outstretched boot which guided past Riemann. Just before the half-time whistle sounded, Xabi Alonso's men won a penalty. Kevin Schlotterbeck snagged the heels of Nathan Tella. Victor Boniface remained ruthlessly cool from the spot.
The aluminium kept Boniface at bay after the restart, while Stöger tried his luck from range at the other end. With an eye towards Leverkusen's jam-packed fixture list on the horizon, Xabi Alonso rolled on the substitutes. The third goal looked like it would never go in after a hectic 71st minute assault where Riemann kept out Xhaka and Schlotterbeck smothered Adli's follow up.
Ultimately, the nail was driven into the coffin in the 76th minute. Jonas Hofmann weighted his corner perfectly to the back post where Adli climbed above Daschner to head home. As he did last Thursday night, Josip Stanišić punished some slack Bochum defending to beat an unsighted Riemann. The Croatian teed up another for Grimaldo minutes later. Leverkusen more than satisfied having returned to the scene of their last defeat 50 games ago and deliver a commanding victory.
