Hakan Calhanoglu at the double as Bayer Leverkusen beat Hertha Berlin

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Hakan Calhanoglu scored twice as Bayer 04 Leverkusen began 2017 on a winning note by beating Hertha Berlin 3-1 in an entertaining game at the BayArena on Matchday 17.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen 3-1 Hertha Berlin

Goals: 1-0 Toprak (12'), 2-0 Calhanoglu (pen. 36'), 2-1 Stocker (44'), 3-1 Calhanoglu (89')

With Karim Bellarabi restored to the line-up after injury, Leverkusen burst out of the blocks and took the lead early when Ömer Toprak popped up at the back post to fire past Rune Jarstein following a free-kick. Firmly in control, the hosts doubled the advantage when Calhanoglu sent Jarstein the wrong way from the penalty spot after a Marvin Plattenhardt handball. There was hope for the Berliners before the break, however, when Valentin Stocker took advantage of confusion in the penalty area to poke past Bernd Leno from close range.

- © gettyimages / Lars Baron
- © gettyimages / Lars Baron