Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Bochum
Goals: 1-0 Tapsoba (pen. 8'), 2-0 Hlozek (assist: Wirtz)

Bochum came into the game with chests puffed following their 3-1 triumph over Hertha Berlin at the weekend, but it soon became clear why they had taken just three points from a possible 24 on the road prior to this fixture. Just eight minutes were on the clock when Moussa Diaby scampered down the right and cut into the box, where he was tripped by Keven Schlotterbeck. Leverkusen had missed their last six penalties in all competitions, but none of them had been taken by Edmond Tapsoba, who should perhaps be the team's designated spot-kick expert now after unerringly lashing his effort into the top corner. The visitors were unfazed, though, and boldly went on the front foot, but a lack of precision in the final third meant they never seriously troubled Lukas Hradecky before the interval.

Leverkusen showed them how it was done early in the second half. Their high press forced a defensive error, the ball spilling out to Wirtz wide on the left. The 19-year-old spotted Adam Hlozek's run and picked him out at the near post to prod in from close range. The visitors could have pulled one back midway through the half when some lax defending allowed Christopher Antwi-Adjei a free run into the box, but he couldn't control the ball with just Hradecky to beat. Alonso reacted by taking off Diaby and bringing on an extra defender in Odilon Kossounou, eager to tighten up his team's rearguard and see the result over the line. They duly did so with a minimum of fuss to climb up to eighth in the table, leaving Bochum down in 16th.

B04 Leverkusen Bayer Leverkusen - BOC Bochum Bochum

Wirtz shows class in next Leverkusen win