Wouter Burger free-kick sees Hoffenheim edge past Bayer Leverkusen
Hoffenheim secured their sixth consecutive home win courtesy of a 1-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen.
Goals: 1-0 Burger 9’
Hoffenheim welcomed Leverkusen to the PreZero Arena in the midst of a remarkable run of form, having scored at least three goals in each of their five successive wins there. With 30 points from 16 games already - their second-best tally at this stage since their debut Bundesliga season under Ralf Rangnick in 2008/09 - another victory would see Christian Ilzer's side surpass their entire points haul from the previous campaign.
Leverkusen, meanwhile, arrived having suffered a 4-1 defeat against VfB Stuttgart on Matchday 16, a result which left them outside the UEFA Champions League spots at the halfway stage in the season.
The hosts started the match with intent, putting pressure on Leverkusen from the first whistle. Their early dominance was rewarded when Wouter Burger scored a spectacular free-kick from a tight angle that evaded everyone on its way into the back of the net.
Hoffenheim continued to look the more dangerous side throughout the first half, with Fisnik Asllani twice being denied by Mark Flekken when through on goal. Leverkusen, meanwhile, struggled to create clear-cut opportunities, with Malik Tillman's long-range effort sailing harmlessly over the crossbar.
The visitors showed more attacking intent after the restart, but Hoffenheim remained dangerous on the counter-attack. Leverkusen's best chance came in the 68th minute when Alejandro Grimaldo's free-kick was saved by Oliver Baumann before Patrik Schick put the rebound over the bar.
Despite nine minutes of added time, Hoffenheim's defence stood firm. Leverkusen's day, on the other hand, suffered two further blows, as Flekken and Nathan Tella were forced off with injuries in the second half, the latter doing so after already coming on as a substitute.
Man of the Match: Wouter Burger
Burger's superb free-kick proved the difference between the sides, but his contribution extended well beyond the decisive goal. The Dutch midfielder was a commanding presence in the centre of the park, covering more ground than any other player in the match with 13.2 kilometres.
Despite receiving a yellow card early in the second half, he continued to dictate play with assured passing and strong defensive work. His set-piece delivery created further opportunities for teammates, and his overall performance demonstrated why he has become such a key figure in Hoffenheim's impressive season.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Hoffenheim 1.63 - Leverkusen 1.17
Fastest player: Christian Kofane (Leverkusen), 33.88 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 1-0 by Wouter Burger (Hoffenheim), 3 percent
Most pressed player: Andrej Kramarić (Hoffenheim), 19 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Mark Flekken (Leverkusen), 4.84
Fantasy Heroes: Bernardo (Hoffenheim, 287 Points), Wouter Burger (Hoffenheim, 236 Points), Mark Flekken (Leverkusen, 236 Points)
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