bundesliga

Bayer Leverkusen again throw away lead to draw with Hoffenheim

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Patrik Schick hit his 15th and 16th Bundesliga goals of the campaign, but Bayer Leverkusen again threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Hoffenheim on a night that Florian Wirtz made history.

Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 Hoffenheim
Goals: 1-0 Schick 37' (assist: Diaby), 2-0 Schick 63' (assist: Hincapie), 2-1 Stiller 80' (assist: Vogt), 2-2 Dabbur 84'
Red card: Diaby 90+2'

Wirtz almost celebrated his Bundesliga half century in stunning fashion after just six minutes, but the 18-year-old moved slightly too early before lashing into the back of the net and his effort was ruled out for offside. It was an early warning from Leverkusen who looked in the mood from the off against in-form Hoffenheim. For all their excellent build-up play, Die Werkself struggled for a spark around the visitors' box until Piero Hincapie volleyed against the post with just over quarter of an hour remaining of the first period. Hoffenheim started to warm to proceedings and Chris Richards was denied by the crossbar but it was the home team that took a deserved lead when Moussa Diaby's superb cross was met by Schick, whose volley was too powerful for Oliver Baumann to keep out.

Having thrown away a two-goal lead in their 5-2 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt at the weekend, Leverkusen were far from home and dry at the break and Hoffenheim almost found themselves level five minutes into the second-half. Andrej Kramaric got himself between two Leverkusen defenders but, from just five yards out, the Croatian could only steer his effort directly at Lukas Hradecky. It looked a costly miss when Schick planted an exquisite header past Baumann from Hincapie's inviting cross, but first Angelo Stiller and then Munas Dabbur pegged the hosts back with two goals in less than four minutes to rescue a point for Hoffenheim. Diaby was sent off for a second bookable offence in the dying moments, rubbing further salt to the wound for Gerardo Seoane's side.

Match stats

  • At 18 years, seven months and 12 days old, Wirtz became the youngest player in Bundesliga history to 50 games, breaking the record previously held by Borussia Dortmund's American playmaker Gio Reyna.
  • Schick is Robert Lewandowski's closest pursuer in the Torjägerkanone race with 15 goals. Bayern's prolific Pole has 18.
  • The 25-year-old has scored eight times across his last three Bundesliga appearances.
  • Leverkusen are the league's second-highest scorers with 39 goals in 16 games and have scored in all but one Bundesliga match so far this term.
  • Making his 201st Hoffenheim appearance, Kramaric remains on 99 goals for the club and is just one away from his century.
  • Hoffenheim have hit the woodwork nine times this season - more than any other team in the top-flight.

Watch: Lukas Hradecky praises 'main man' Patrik Schick

Line-ups

Leverkusen: Hradecky (c) – Kossounou, Tah, Tapsoba, Hincapie – Palacios, Demirbay (Aranguiz 64') – Bellarabi (Adli 65'), Wirtz (Andrich 82'), Diaby – Schick (Alario 90+4')
Unused subs: Lunev, Retsos, Sinkgraven, Paulinho, Amiri
Out:
Baumgartlinger (knee), Frimpong (suspended), Bakker (ankle), Fosu-Mensah (match fitness)
Coach:
Gerardo Seoane

Hoffenheim: Baumann (c) – Vogt, Grillitsch, Richards – Akpoguma (Kaderabek 46'), Rudy (Stiller 46'), Samassekou (Adamyan 83'), Raum – Bebou (Rutter 68'), Kramaric, Baumgartner (Dabbur 68')
Unused subs: Pentke, Nordtveit, Hübner, Posch
Out:
Bicakcic (knee), Bruun Larsen (muscular), Skov (thigh), Geiger (thigh), John (ill)
Coach:
Sebastian Hoeneß

Watch: Sebastian Rudy talks up Hoffenheim's strength in depth