Bayer Leverkusen defeated Bochum 3-1 in the Matchday 27 opener, with goals from Aleix García, Victor Boniface, and Amine Adli securing a vital three points for Xabi Alonso's men as they look to chase down league leaders Bayern Munich.

Bayer Leverkusen 3–1 Bochum
Goals: 1-0 García 20‘ (assist: Palacios), 1-1 Passlack 26‘, 2-1 Boniface 60‘ (assist: Hincapié), 3-1 Adli 87‘ (assist: Palacios)

The BayArena played host to a high-stakes encounter as Leverkusen welcomed Bochum for a match crucial to both teams' season objectives. Xabi Alonso's men were looking to close the six-point gap to league leaders Bayern Munich, while Dieter Hecking's side were fighting to escape the relegation play-off spot. The home team entered the match with a strong record against Bochum, having won their last four encounters, but the visitors' impressive Friday form promised an intriguing battle.

Aleix García opened the scoring with a sensational strike, at a point where the hosts were struggling to break Bochum down. - IMAGO/Maik Hölter/TEAM2sportphoto

García opens the scoring

Leverkusen started the match on the front foot, dominating possession and pinning Bochum back in their own half. The pressure paid off in the 20th minute when Aleix García broke the deadlock. The Spanish midfielder received a pass from Exequiel Palacios just outside the area and sent his bending effort past Timo Horn, giving Leverkusen the lead.

Felix Passlack bettered García's strike just minutes later, arguably against the run of play too. - IMAGO/UWE KRAFT

About the players

25

Exequiel Alejandro

Palacios

Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Want more Bundesliga Action?

GET THE UPDATES!

Passlack's unexpected equalizer

However, Bochum's resilience shone through as they found an equaliser just six minutes later. In a moment of brilliance, Felix Passlack unleashed a looping volley from outside the area that looped over Lukáš Hrádecký into the far corner. The unexpected goal stunned the home crowd and breathed new life into the visitors, who began to grow into the game. The teams went into the break level at 1-1.

Victor Boniface (r.) scored their second goal on the hour mark, halting any momentum Bochum had picked up. - PAU BARRENA

Leverkusen assert dominance

The second half saw Leverkusen come out with renewed determination. Their pressure finally told in the 60th minute when Victor Boniface restored their lead, after a García free-kick found Piero Hincapié at the far post, who squared for Boniface to finish. The goal was confirmed by VAR, much to the relief of the home supporters, and Leverkusen continued to push forward. Their victory was sealed in the 87th minute when substitute Amine Adli scored, set up by a pass from Palacios.

Amine Adli (l.) wrapped up the points in the final minutes of the game, allowing his teammates and fans to breathe a sigh of relief. - PAU BARRENA

Player of the Match: Exequiel Palacios

While the scorers will grab the headlines, it was Palacios who truly ran the show for Leverkusen. The Argentine midfielder delivered a masterclass in box-to-box play, providing two assists and controlling the tempo of the game. His vision and passing were instrumental in breaking down Bochum's defence, while his work rate and positioning helped nullify the visitors' counter-attacks. Palacios' performance was particularly impressive considering he had little rest following his recent international duty.

Exequiel Palacios even assisted Garcia with his celebration, before later setting up Adli for their third goal of the evening. - PAU BARRENA

Late drama and disciplinary issues

The match wasn't without its share of drama and tension. In the 70th minute, Leverkusen's assistant coach Sebastián Parrilla received a yellow card, followed by a similar booking for Bochum's assistant coach Marc-André Kruska in the 87th minute. In injury time, Granit Xhaka came close to adding a fourth for Leverkusen, but his shot struck both posts before bouncing clear, adding to the excitement of the closing moments.

Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Leverkusen 1.87 - Bochum 0.52
Fastest player: Jeremie Frimpong (Leverkusen), 36.34 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 1-0 by Aleix García (Leverkusen), 16 percent
Most pressed player: Victor Boniface (Leverkusen), 22 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Granit Xhaka (Leverkusen), +4.55

Fantasy Heroes: Exequiel Palacios (Leverkusen, 323 Points), Aleix García (Leverkusen, 294 Points), Nordi Mukiele (Leverkusen, 282 Points)

About the clubs

VfL Bochum 1848

Vonovia Ruhrstadion

Bayer 04 Leverkusen

BayArena