Boniface scores brace in Leverkusen win

Victor Boniface opened his 2024/25 German Bundesliga goals account in style, netting a brace and providing an assist as Bayer Leverkusen secured a commanding 4-1 away victory against Hoffenheim in the German Bundesliga on Saturday.

The Nigeria international, who had been suspended for unprofessional conduct in his previous league appearance, marked his return with a Man-of-the-Match performance that helped the champions return to winning ways.

Boniface wasted no time in making his impact felt, setting up Martin Terrier for the opener in the 17th minute with a perfectly weighted square pass before doubling Leverkusen’s advantage in the 30th minute after latching onto a pass from Granit Xhaka and firing a low, powerful finish past goalkeeper Oliver Baumann.

Despite Hoffenheim’s Mergim Berisha pulling one back before halftime, Leverkusen remained in control of the game.

Florian Wirtz extended the visitors’ lead from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute after Dennis Geiger fouled Alejandro Grimaldo.

Boniface then sealed the comfortable win for Xabi Alonso’s side with 15 minutes remaining, showcasing his individual brilliance by cutting in from the left and beating Baumann with a clinical effort.

The victory was particularly significant for Leverkusen, coming just two weeks after their 35-match unbeaten league run was ended by RB Leipzig at the BayArena.

It also extended their unbeaten Bundesliga away run to 19 games—the second-longest in the division’s history after Bayern Munich’s 33-match streak between 2012 and 2014.

Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso praised his team’s resilience, saying, “It was an important test for us to not concede a second goal after going 2-0 up. We reacted well, and this time we controlled the game better and were more stable until the end.”

The win lifts Leverkusen to fourth place with six points, setting them up nicely for their upcoming Champions League campaign, which begins next week against Feyenoord.

Boniface’s compatriot, Nathan Tella, also started for Leverkusen but was substituted for Jeremie Frimpong in the 57th minute. Boniface himself was replaced by Patrick Schick four minutes from time, having left an indelible mark on the game.

As Leverkusen continue their title defence, performances like this from Boniface will be crucial. The Nigerian striker has shown he can be a game-changer, and fans will be eager to see if he can maintain this form in the coming weeks, both in the Bundesliga and on the European stage.