Highlights
D. Schlager
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0:11
Watch: Xabi Alonso on Leverkusen's unbeaten start
0:20
Watch: Patrik Schick "happy to be healthy again"
Full-time: Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 Bochum
© IMAGO/pepphoto / Horst Mauelshagen
Full-time
90'
Frimpong crosses for Boniface
It's too deep from the Dutchman. Four minutes of stoppage time are indicated.
90'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
87'
Frimpong fastest again
Fastest runner (km/h)
34.94
33.5
Jeremie Frimpong Cristian Gamboa
87'
Substitution
87'
Substitution
81'
Leverkusen looking for more
Tapsoba has a shot from a corner saved by Riemann.
76'
Chance for Hložek
Frimpong cuts another dangerous ball in from the right, and Adam Hložek hits over.
73'
Alonso rings further changes
Adam Hložek and Gustavo Puerta have a chance to show what they can do in the final phases.
73'
Substitution
73'
Substitution
69'
4-0! Boniface makes instant impact!
Having watched from the bench as Patrik Schick tore Bochum to pieces in the first half, Boniface pounces within two minutes of entering the pitch - latching on to a Wirtz through ball and bashing the ball into and past Riemann.
69'
Substitution
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
Distance to Goal
Distance to Goal
The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.
67'
Schick leaves the field
There is great applause for the hat-trick hero as he is replaced by Victor Boniface, with Tapsoba also on for Tah.
67'
Substitution
67'
Substitution
63'
Two changes for Bochum
The triple strike from Schick took the wind well and truly out of their sails after a bright start - and we've seen no signs so far in the second period that the visitors can mount an unlikely comeback.
63'
Substitution
63'
Substitution
62'
Andrich thought he had made it four
The German international is in the side for the suspended Palacios tonight, and he dispatches a bullet header in from around the penalty spot following a neat Grimaldo cross. VAR spots that Wirtz was offside in the build-up, however.
62'
SituationGoal
ReviewOffside?
DecisionNo goal
60'
Hofmann over
Schick and Wirtz combine on the edge of the box to tee up Hofmann, whose drive goes behind via a Bernardo block.
56'
Offside opportunities
Both Patrik Schick and Christopher Antwi-Adjei got the ball behind the opposing defences, but both were flagged for offside.
55'
Leverkusen in control
Possession (%)
6238
50'
Wirtz feeds Frimpong
Leverkusen's first chance of the second period sees Florian Wirtz ping a ball from the left to Jeremie Frimpong at the far post. The Dutchman was positioned perfectly but his touch is too heavy to allow him to get a shot away,
46'
Leverkusen get the second half underway
Their fans are in fine voice, quite understandably after the staggering end to the first period.
Kick-off!
45'
+ 4
Substitution
Half-time: Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 Bochum
© IMAGO/Ralf Treese
Half-time
45'
+ 1
SCHICK HAT-TRICK!
The returning hero strikes again! Alejandro Grimaldo floats a corner in and Patrik Schick glances a header off a defender's shoulder and in to complete his first-half hat-trick! The Leverkusen faithful are loving this.
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
Distance to Goal
Distance to Goal
The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.
43'
Hofmann denied
Jonas Hofmann charges towards the edge of the box and sends a drive in that Manuel Riemann grabs. Hofmann then tees Grimaldo up right in front of goal, but the Spaniard clips over with the goal gaping. It is all Leverkusen right now!
41'
Sharp Schick seeks hat-trick
That was almost his third! Schick takes the ball inside the box with his back to goal, spins around but fires over.
39'
First booking of the game
Erhan Mašović yanks the shirt of Florian Wirtz to stop a break and gets shown a yellow card right away.
34'
Frimpong saved
Leverkusen are buoyant and sensing the chance for further goals! Frimpong smashes a drive from the edge of the box, but Riemann prevents his side from falling three down.
32'
Schick again!
Wow! On his first start for 14 months, the Czech striker blasts a brace within the space of two minutes. Jeremie Frimpong puts it on a plate from the right for Schick to smash past Riemann for 2-0.
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
Shot speed
Shot speed
Shot speed describes the maximum speed in km/h that a ball reaches in a shot on goal. The distance is measured from the location of the shot to the centre of the goal.
Distance to Goal
Distance to Goal
The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.
30'
Schick scores from the spot!
The leaders are in front - with the Czech striker slotting past Manuel Riemann from the spot.
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
Distance to Goal
Distance to Goal
The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.
30'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
29'
Penalty to Leverkusen!
Patrik Schick is tripped by Manuel Riemann, and the leaders will have a chance to take the lead.
28'
SituationPenalty
ReviewPrevious Offside?
DecisionPenalty
27'
Schick for Xhaka
Patrik Schick pulls the ball back from the right for the onrushing Granit Xhaka, whose touch is too heavy and the ball runs on to the goalkeeper.
24'
Bernardo header saved
The Brazilian centre-back had a headed effort from a throw-in but it looped into Lukáš Hrádecký's arms.
Even start
© UWE KRAFT
15'
Bochum corner
The visitors' pressure continues. Gonçalo Paciência swirls a corner in to Lukáš Hrádecký, who saves well.
14'
Leverkusen passing disrupted
10'
Asano down in the box
Bochum thread together a nice attacking move that sees Takuma Asano get the ball into the box, but a superb sliding tackle from Josip Stanišić takes it off the Japanese attacker. Christopher Antwi-Adjei then flashes a shot wide via a deflection as Bochum's strong start continues.
7'
Quiet start - until Frimpong gets going
We had a break for a couple of minutes after kick-off, and Leverkusen were happy to pass the ball around thereafter. Jeremie Frimpong now suddenly charges forward down the right, but his ball into the box is claimed by Manuel Riemann.
1'
Off we go
Just a reminder - Leverkusen can break the all-time Bundesliga record for a best-ever unbeaten run to start a season (in all competitions) tonight.
Kick-off!
Here come the teams
There is a suitably festive atmosphere in Leverkusen tonight. It is certain to be a happy Christmas for fans around here, and we'll see in a couple of minutes if it will get even better...
Experienced Werkself
The Leverkusen line-up tonight has an average age of 27.2 - older than any other Leverkusen side since the final day of the 2020/21 season.
0:10
He had a free chocolate coin and scored a goal at the weekend...
0:07
The Bay Arena some time ago
More on that Leverkusen team
It looks like Xabi Alonso is preparing in advance for the absentees at the African Cup of Nations in January. Victor Boniface starts a match on the bench for the first time at Leverkusen, alongside Edmond Tapsoba and Odilon Kossounou. Josip Stanišić and Piero Hincapie start in defence, while Patrik Schick leads the line in his first start in over 14 months.
More on that Bochum team
Thomas Letsch makes two changes for the visit to the league leaders compared to the side that started the 3-0 win over Union Berlin. Matúš Bero and Erhan Mašović are brought in.
Leverkusen starting XI
Hrádecký (c) - Stanišić, Tah, Hincapie - Frimpong, Andrich, Xhaka, Grimaldo - Hofmann, Wirtz - Schick
Leverkusen subs
Kovář, Kossounou, Tapsoba, Amiri, Puerta, Tella, Adli, Boniface, Hložek
Bochum starting XI
Riemann - Gamboa, Mašović, Schlotterbeck, Bernardo - Osterhage, Losilla (c), Bero - Asano, Paciência, Antwi-Adjei
Bochum subs
Thiede, Soares, Oermann, Wittek, Loosli, Förster, Daschner, Kwarteng, Broschinski
Afcon looming
Leverkusen are set to be without Edmond Tapsoba, Odilon Kossounou and Victor Boniface in the new year, with the Africa Cup of Nations taking place between 13 January and 11 February. The Bundesliga leaders have games against Augsburg, Leipzig, Gladbach, Darmstadt and Bayern in that window, as well as a DFB Cup quarter-final with Stuttgart.
Table talk
Leverkusen are guaranteed to head into the winter break in first place. They're currently four points clear of Bayern, who go to Wolfsburg today and have a game in hand. Leipzig are two points behind Bayern in third, but surprise package Stuttgart will leapfrog them if they beat Augsburg. Fourteenth ahead of the trip to Leverkusen, Bochum have a six-point cushion on the relegation zone.
2:21
Watch: Grimaldo explains his shooting technique
0:56
Watch: Grimaldo on life under Alonso
The view from Leverkusen
© IMAGO/Anke Waelischmiller/Sven Simon
The view from Bochum
© IMAGO/Mika Volkmann
Win exclusive prizes with our Advent calendar!
© DFL
Alonso's record-breakers
Leverkusen's 24-game unbeaten run at the start of this campaign is the longest in German history, matching Hamburg's streak in 1982/83. Not only that, Alonso's men have averaged 2.6 points per game this term, which is more than any other side in Europe's top five leagues.
Probable line ups
© IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Axel Kohring
2:03
Watch: Bochum 3-0 Leverkusen - previous meeting
2:03
Watch: Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 Eintracht Frankfurt - highlights
2:03
Watch: Bochum 3-0 Union Berlin - highlights
Hello and welcome!
Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of this Matchday 16 fixture between Leverkusen and Bochum.