Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 Cologne
Goals: 1-0: Hofmann 22' (assist: Wirtz), 2-0 Frimpong 32' (assist: Grimaldo), 3-0 Boniface 67' (assist: Hofmann)

Leverkusen have been irresistible so far this campaign, and their 2-1 victory away at Molde in the UEFA Europa League meant they came into this encounter unbeaten in nine games in all competitions this term. It didn't take them long to test Marvin Schwäbe here as Florian Wirtz tried his luck from distance, and that effort set the tone for the majority of the first half. Victor Boniface, Jonathan Tah and Wirtz - again - all went close to breaking the deadlock before Hofmann eventually did in the 22nd minute, putting the finishing touch to a lightning-quick move. Shortly after the half-hour mark, Die Werkself were two the good, as Jeremie Frimpong arrived at the back post to dispatch Alejandro Grimaldo's pinpoint low cross. Despite struggling to contain their opponents, Cologne came with inches of halving the deficit on the brink of half-time, but Eric Martel was twice denied by Lukáš Hrádecký from close range.

After the interval, Alonso's charges continued to dominate, as Frimpong and Wirtz went close to further extending the advantage. In the end, Boniface was the man to bag the third, tapping home Hofmann's pass following another scintillating passage of play from Leverkusen. The Nigerian could have netted a brace later on as the hosts continued to push forward, but he placed his side-footed shot narrowly wide of Schwäbe's post. Any opponent would have had trouble keeping Leverkusen at bay on this form, and Steffen Baumgart and Co. will likely be relatively happy to have reduced them to just the three goals. Effzeh remain bottom of the table as a result, while Leverkusen go into the international break having provided further proof of why they must be taken seriously as Meisterschale contenders.

Highlights

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Hofmann fires Leverkusen back to top spot