Highlights

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0:29
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Watch: Xabi Alonso praises returning Boniface

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Full-time: Leverkusen 3-1 Hoffenheim

Half-time substitute Schick extended Leverkusen's lead to three just six minutes after being introduced. The three points looked to be wrapped up for Leverkusen, but a second yellow card for Grimaldo allowed Hoffenheim back into it, as Orban scored on the end of the subsequent free-kick. It was a tense affair with tempers flaring, but despite the red card scare, Leverkusen managed to hold onto their lead for another home victory.
Full-time
90'
+ 4

Great save

Akpoguma floats a ball across into the path of Prass. The substitute takes it first time on the volley, his effort stinging the palms of Hrádecký.
90'
+ 2

Just wide

A great delivery from Bischof from the right finds Chaves in the middle. His glancing header goes narrowly wide of the post.
90'
+ 1

Five additional minutes

There are to be five minutes added on at the end of this half for injuries and stoppages.
90'

Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes

information
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.
85'

Further changes

Both managers make their final substitutions of the match. Palacios and Arthur come in for Wirtz and Frimpong, whilst Prass replaces Yardımcı for Hoffenheim. Can they be the difference?
84'

Substitution

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Orban celebrates

The substitute scored with his first touch after coming off the bench.
79'

Tempers flare

There's some pushing and squaring-up following a physical challenge on Wirtz from Bischof, who stayed down a while afterwards. Yardımcı, Bischof and Tah all receive yellow cards in the aftermath.
69'

A substitute substituted

New centre-back Mario Hermoso replaces Buendía, who had come on in the first half. The Roma loanee is introduced to stabilise the defence with Leverkusen down to 10 men.
67'

Fairly even

information
xGoals
The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).
Despite Leverkusen having a 3-1 advantage, the xG for these sides is pracitcally level.
xGoals
3
1.56
1.55
1
Goals
63'

Orban gets one back!

Bischof shoots from the free-kick. The ball is blocked and comes back out to Bülter, who puts the ball back in with a bicycle kick. A goal-mouth scramble ensues and Orban manages to poke the ball home from inside the six-yard box with his first touch since coming on.
62'

Gift Orban

GOAL!

3:1
Gift Orban
Goal probability
information
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.
97 %
Distance to Goal
information
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.
1.41 m
62'

Leverkusen down to ten!

Grimaldo catches Bülter late in a challenge, and, having already received a yellow card in the first half, receives another is subsequently dismissed. Can Hoffenheim make their man-advantage count?
55'

Could've been four...

Leverkusen counterattack fantastically once again. Grimaldo plays a one-two with Wirtz before picking the unmarked Frimpong out at the far side. The Dutchman has a one-on-one with Philipp in goal, but his finish is too close to the keeper.
52'

Ruthless Schick makes it three!

He's only been on for less than ten minutes and the Czech is already on the scoresheet. Buendía dribbles excellently last a couple of Hoffenheim defenders before getting a shot off inside the box. Philipp saves the initial attempt well, but Schick pounces on the loose ball, calmly dispatching it into the top-left corner.
51'
Patrik Schick
Goal probability
information
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.
27 %
Shot speed
information
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.
94.19 km/h
Distance to Goal
information
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.
11.1 m
46'

Back underway!

Hoffenheim get the ball rolling again here for the second half. Leverkusen make one change: Schick replaces Boniface up front.
Kick-off!
1:04
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First-half Bundesliga first

Following the penalty incident in the first half, there was a first stadium announcement by a referee in the Bundesliga - "The penalty has been reviewed: According to the images, there was an offside. That's why the decision is: no penalty - offside!" said Robin Braun, making Bundesliga history in the process.
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Half-time: Leverkusen 2-0 Hoffenheim

The sides go in at half-time with Leverkusen two goals to the good. Their lightning-fast start saw them find the net twice through Boniface and Frimpong inside twenty minutes. The lead was nearly further supplemented by a penalty, which was overturned after a VAR review, with the referee letting the crowd know the reason behind the decision over the loudspeakers in a Bundesliga first. Hoffenheim stabilised as the half went on, but there's a lot of work to be done if they want to get something from this.
Half-time
45'
+ 1

Four additional minutes

There are to be four minutes added on at the end of this half.
45'
+ 1

Bülter with the attempt

Hoffenheim are growing now. The ball finds Bülter at the far post, who lets a powerful shot fly, but it's parried by Hrádecký.
43'

Buendía on

Tella is unable to continue as is replaced by new kid on the block Emi Buendía, who walks out for his Leverkusen debut.
42'

Jurásek shoots

Bischof shows great strength to win the ball back. He lays it off to Jurásek, whose shot is on target, but straight at Hrádecký.
41'

Dominant in possession

As they have done so often this season, Leverkusen have dominated the ball so far this half at the BayArena.
Possession (%)
5842
39'

Tella down

The winger is down holding his thigh and the physios are on to administer treatment. He's back to his feet now, though, as he walks off the pitch to receive further treatment.
35'

Just wide

A well-worked move from Hoffenheim culminates in a cross from Jurásek finding Yardımcı at the front post. The Turkish forward's first-time effort is smashed into the side netting.
32'

Ball Recovery Time

information
Ball Recovery Time
Ball Recovery Time gives the time in seconds in which it takes a team to win back the ball following a loss of possession. It also allows conclusions to be drawn about a team's style of play. Only time when the ball is in play is counted (i.e. no breaks in play such as for goal-kicks, throw-ins etc).
B04
TSG
14.9 s
25.3 s
31'

Well over

The ball falls to Hincapié 30 yards from goal. The Ecuadorian lets an effort fly but it's always rising.
30'

Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes

information
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.
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Boniface celebrates

The Nigerian high-fives Grimaldo, who provided him the assist for his first goal since returning to the starting line-up.
27'

Clinical Werkself

information
xGoals
The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).
Despite their xG being just 0.53, Leverkusen have found the back of the net twice already. They've succeeded in stifling any attacking threat from the visitors so far too.
xGoals
2
0.53
0.0
0
Goals
26'

Effort from Tella

Every time Leverkusen go forward they look dangerous. This time, Wirtz drives them up the pitch before laying it out wide to Grimaldo. The Spaniard's low cross finds Tella, whose shot is blocked well.
24'

No penalty

Following a VAR review, the referee announces over the loudspeaker that Tella was offside in the build-up and thus the penalty decision is overturned.
23'
Video Assistant RefereeVideo Assistant Referee
SituationPenalty
ReviewPrevious Offside?
DecisionNo penalty
22'

Penalty for Leverkusen!

Tella gets just ahead of Jurásek in the Hoffenheim box. The defender, in trying to clear the ball, brings Tella down instead and the referee points to the spot.
20'

Frimpong at the double!

Leverkusen's winger doubles their advantage inside 20 minutes. An incisive ball from García finds the well-timed run of the Dutchman, who bears down on goal before slotting it home into the bottom-left corner.
19'
Jeremie Frimpong
Goal probability
information
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.
33 %
Shot speed
information
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.
87.9 km/h
Distance to Goal
information
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.
13.52 m
18'

Bülter goes down

The German falls to the turf inside the Leverkusen penalty area. Hincapié brings him down after slipping himself, and thus the referee dismisses the cries for a penalty, judging it to be a coming-together.
15'

Boniface back with a bang!

The Nigerian marks his return to the starting XI with a goal. Jurásek gives the ball away at the back for Hoffenheim and instantly Leverkusen pounce. They work it to Grimaldo, who threads a ball through into the box for Boniface. The striker hits a powerful shot back across goal, the ball nestling in the far corner.
15'
Victor Boniface
Goal probability
information
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.
7 %
Shot speed
information
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.
96.3 km/h
Distance to Goal
information
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.
15.98 m
10'

Wirtz picked out

The German makes a good run to the byline and is picked out well by Grimaldo. He tries to cut it back to Boniface, but his pass is cut out.
4'

In by Frimpong

The Dutchman finds himself in space down the right again. He fires a cross into the middle, but it's straight into the arms of Philipp.
3'

Grimaldo takes...

...but the referee pulls it back for a foul on Akpoguma in the middle. Free-kick Hoffenheim.
2'

Early corner

Tella is played down the right, using his pace to get up the pitch. He plays it to Frimpong, whose cross is blocked behind for the first corner of the game.
1'

And we're off!

It's Leverkusen who get the ball rolling here in the BayArena.
Kick-off!
0:07
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Hoffenheim take to the field

Christian Ilzer's men are also out on the pitch to complete their warm-ups.
0:09
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Warm-ups underway!

Leverkusen take to the field to begin their pre-match prep.

New faces

Two of Leverkusen's high profile January signings are on the bench today. Many will be hoping for Mario Hermoso and Emiliano Buendía to be substituted on to make their debuts for Die Werkself at the BayArena this afternoon.
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More on that Leverkusen team

For Die Werkself, Boniface celebrates his comeback - starting for the first time since his thigh injury in mid-November. Schick drops to the bench in his stead. Furthermore, Hradecky, Hincapie and Aleix Garcia all come in to replace Kovar, Mukiele and Palacios (all on the bench) following their 2-0 midweek victory over Sparta Prague in the Champions League.
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More on that Hoffenheim team

An extensive injury list forces Christian Ilzer to make four changes in comparison to his side that drew 2-2 with Frankfurt in their last Bundesliga outing. Hranáč, Geiger, Bülter and Yardımcı all come into the side. This is Bülter's first start since he sustained a hamstring injury in late November.

Leverkusen starting XI

Hrádecký (c) - Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapié - Frimpong, Xhaka, García, Grimaldo - Tella, Wirtz – Boniface

Leverkusen subs

Kovář, Hermoso, Arthur, Mukiele, Hofmann, Palacios, Schick, Buendía, Alajbegović

Hoffenheim starting XI

L. Philipp - Chaves, Hranáč, Akpoguma (c), Jurásek - Geiger, Becker – Bischof, Hložek, Bülter - Yardımcı

Hoffenheim subs

Philipp, Nsoki, Behrens, König, Prass, Micheler, Đurić, Orban, Mokwa
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Probable line-ups

Who’s set to play this weekend? Who’s going to miss out? Keep up to date with all the latest team news right here!
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Christian Ilzer on facing Leverkusen

"They're a great team with a lot of quality - you can see Xabi Alonso's signature. We want to take confidence with us going into it, but we also have to think about how we can upset the reigning German champions in terms of how we set up."
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Probable line-ups

Who’s set to play this weekend? Who’s going to miss out? Keep up to date with all the latest team news right here!
2:03
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Watch: Hoffenheim 1-4 Leverkusen - previous meeting

A Boniface brace supplemented by goals from Wirtz and Terrier was Hoffenheim's undoing when last these sides met on Matchday 3.

Hope for Hoffenheim

Leverkusen are unbeaten in their last 17 Bundesliga games. Yet there is hope for visiting Hoffenheim: no team has thrown away more points from leading positions (13) than Xabi Alonso's side.
2:03
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Watch: Leipzig 2-2 Leverkusen - highlights

Leverkusen dropped points from a winning position for the sixth time this season after surrendering a 2-2 lead to draw with Leipzig. With leaders Bayern Munich victorious in Freiburg, the defending champions find themselves six points off top spot with 15 games to go.
2:03
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Watch: Hoffenheim 2-2 Frankfurt - highlights

Adam Hložek's injury-time equaliser against Frankfurt gave Hoffenheim's survival bid a welcome shot in the arm. Following hot on the heels of a 3-1 win at second-bottom Kiel, the result moved Christian Ilzer's side four points clear of the relegation play-off berth currently occupied by Heidenheim.
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Hello and welcome!

Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of this Matchday 20 fixture between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and TSG Hoffenheim.