Bayer Leverkusen earned a 3-1 home win over relegation-threatened Hoffenheim on Sunday to remain six points off Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich.
The German champion bounced back after last week’s disappointing 2-2 draw at RB Leipzig and sits second on 45 points. Hoffenheim remains 15th on 18 points, four above the drop zone.
Leverkusen opened the scoring after 15 minutes when Victor Boniface, returning from injury, met Alejandro Grimaldo’s pass in the box and struck home at the far post, beating goalkeeper Luca Philipp.
Jeremie Frimpong doubled the lead five minutes later, coolly finding the bottom far corner after Aleix Garcia’s fine through ball and substitute Patrik Schick made it 3-0 in the 51st minute with a superb shot into the top right corner.
While the host pushed to extend its lead, the side’s momentum took a hit on the hour mark when it was reduced to 10 men after Grimaldo received a second yellow card for a foul on Marius Bulter.
Gift Orban, who had just come on, pulled one back for Hoffenheim in the 62nd minute with a close-range finish, but the visitor failed to capitalise on its numerical advantage to mount a comeback.