Bayer Leverkusen extends home winning run
Bayer Leverkusen held on to beat relegation-threatened Hoffenheim 3-1, winning its sixth Bundesliga home match in a row.
The defending champion bounced back after last week's disappointing 2-2 draw at Leipzig, despite Alex Grimaldo's second-half red card setting up a tricky ending.
Leverkusen dominated in the opening stages and scored after 15 minutes when Victor Boniface, returning from injury, met Grimaldo's pass to strike home at the far post, beating Luca Philipp.
Jeremie Frimpong doubled the lead four minutes later, coolly finding the far-bottom corner after latching onto Aleix Garcia's fine through-ball.
Later in the first half, Leverkusen saw a penalty overturned after a VAR review - the first time this has happened in the Bundesliga - but it got a third goal six minutes after the break. Patrik Schick smashed the rebound of Emiliano Buendia's saved shot into the top-right corner.
Leverkusen's momentum took a hit on the hour mark though, as a second yellow card for Grimaldo for a foul on Marius Butler reduced them to 10 men.
Just moments later, Gift Orban, who had been on the pitch for less than a minute, pulled one back with a close-range finish, but Hoffenheim failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage despite many late chances.
Leverkusen move onto 45 points, six behind leaders Bayern after 20 matches, while Hoffenheim remain 15th, just four points above the drop zone.
