Bochum – Bayer Leverkusen has extended its incredible invincibility streak and prevented VfL Bochum from relegating early. Coach Xabi Alonso’s team deservedly won 5-0 (2-0) at the Revierclub.
Leverkusen remained unbeaten in their 50th competitive game in a row. The German champions are just one game without defeat away from becoming the first Bundesliga team to go a full season without losing a game. In front of 26,000 spectators in the Ruhrstadion, Patrik Schick scored the goals for Bayer 04 in the 41st minute, Victor Boniface (45th+2), Amine Adli (76th), Josip Stanisic (86th) and Alejandro Grimaldo (90th+3). . The Rhinelanders played in the majority for a long time because Bochum’s Felix Passlack was shown the red card early (15th).
VfL now has to fight against relegation on matchday 34. Bochum is in 14th place in the table and is three points ahead of 1. FC Union Berlin in the relegation zone.
Leverkusen outnumbered early on
As expected, Alonso made a big change three days after reaching the Europa League final. The strong wing players Grimaldo and Jeremie Frimpong, among others, were not in the starting line-up, and the ailing German international Florian Wirtz was, as expected, not in the squad at all.
And at the beginning, Bayer 04 actually seemed to lack a bit of offensive power. Bochum defended well and had their first chances to score early with a header from a corner through Takuma Asano and Philipp Hofmann. Almost out of nowhere, VfL suffered a bitter and decisive setback. Passlack didn’t stand well when Edmond Tapsoba sent a through ball and then ran into Nathan Tella’s heels. Referee Benjamin Brand rightly decided on the emergency brake and red for the Bochum right-back.
The guests took control in the majority. Leverkusen had significantly more possession of the ball and at times played around the Bochum penalty area like handball. First, midfielder Granit Xhaka failed to hit the crossbar with a long-range shot (30′). Then Leverkusen struck twice: center forward Schick placed a cross from the left side exactly into the right corner. Boniface converted a penalty after a foul by Keven Schlotterbeck on Tella to make it 2-0. At halftime the game was virtually decided.
Grimaldo brings the end
The second half began with an unplanned break: referee Benjamin Brand interrupted the game for around two minutes shortly after the restart because Bochum fans were setting off fireworks. Some VfL supporters acknowledged the action with whistles and chants against the ultras of the Revierclub.
Little changed on the pitch afterwards. VfL didn’t give up and tried to play forward. Being outnumbered, the hosts mostly lacked the resources. Bayer 04 remained clearly superior. Alonso’s triple hunters could have made the result clearer much earlier. Bochum goalkeeper Manuel Riemann made strong saves against Schick (50th), Xhaka (71st) and Adli (75th). Boniface was unlucky when he shot off the post (59′). Adli then scored with a header from a corner from Jonas Hofmann, and then Stanisic and substitute Grimaldo followed up.