Bayer Leverkusen produced a dramatic comeback to avoid their first defeat of the season and claim a 2-1 win over Hoffenheim in the German Bundesliga.
Leverkusen’s 38-game unbeaten streak looked set to end when they found themselves 1-0 down with fewer than five minutes of normal time remaining.
Robert Andrich scored for the league leaders in the 88th minute to cancel out Maximilian Beier’s opener.
The hosts’ comeback was completed with a 91st-minute Patrik Schick winner.
They are 13 points clear of Bayern Munich, who play Borussia Dortmund later on Saturday.
Leverkusen were playing in their first match since manager Xabi Alonso revealed he will stay at the club next season, ending speculation he would join Liverpool or Bayern Munich.
Seventh-placed Hoffenheim stifled the good feeling surrounding Alonso’s announcement when Beier linked up with Wout Weghorst in the penalty area before slotting past keeper Lukas Hradecky.
Leverkusen piled on the pressure and two goals in quick succession from Andrich and Schick ensured the club stretched their unbeaten record to 39 games across all competitions.
Leverkusen are on course to claim their first league title with just seven games left to go this season.
Line-ups
B Leverkusen
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Hrádecky
- 12TapsobaSubstituted forStanisicat 86′minutes
- 4Tah
- 3HincapiéSubstituted forIglesiasat 71′minutes
- 30FrimpongSubstituted forTellaat 86′minutes
- 8Andrich
- 34Xhaka
- 20Grimaldo
- 7HofmannSubstituted forAdliat 58′minutes
- 10Wirtz
- 14Schick
Substitutes
- 2Stanisic
- 6Kossounou
- 9Iglesias
- 17Kovár
- 18Mbamba
- 19Tella
- 21Adli
- 23Hlozek
- 32Puerta
Hoffenheim
Formation 5-3-2
- 1Baumann
- 3Kaderábek
- 5Kabak
- 11Grillitsch
- 35DrexlerBooked at 19mins
- 19Jurásek
- 27KramaricSubstituted forPrömelat 58′minutes
- 16Stach
- 40TohumcuSubstituted forGeigerat 73′minutes
- 10WeghorstSubstituted forBülterat 78′minutes
- 14BeierSubstituted forBebouat 73′minutes
Substitutes
- 6Prömel
- 8Geiger
- 9Bebou
- 20Becker
- 21Bülter
- 25Akpoguma
- 29Skov
- 34Nsoki
- 36Noll
- Referee:
- Deniz Aytekin
- Attendance:
- 30,210
Live Text
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Match ends, Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2, TSG Hoffenheim 1.
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Second Half ends, Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2, TSG Hoffenheim 1.
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Foul by Granit Xhaka (Bayer 04 Leverkusen).
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Ihlas Bebou (TSG Hoffenheim) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Granit Xhaka (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Dennis Geiger (TSG Hoffenheim).
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Goal! Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2, TSG Hoffenheim 1. Patrik Schick (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Nathan Tella.
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Attempt missed. Álex Grimaldo (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Amine Adli.
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Goal! Bayer 04 Leverkusen 1, TSG Hoffenheim 1. Robert Andrich (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Jonathan Tah with a headed pass following a corner.
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Corner, Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Conceded by Ozan Kabak.
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Attempt blocked. Florian Wirtz (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Álex Grimaldo.
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Borja Iglesias (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) hits the bar with a right footed shot from the centre of the box. Assisted by Amine Adli.
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Substitution, Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Josip Stanisic replaces Edmond Tapsoba.
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Substitution, Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Nathan Tella replaces Jeremie Frimpong.
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Foul by Amine Adli (Bayer 04 Leverkusen).
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Tim Drexler (TSG Hoffenheim) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Patrik Schick (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Amine Adli with a cross.
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Attempt missed. Patrik Schick (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Robert Andrich.
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Granit Xhaka (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Ihlas Bebou (TSG Hoffenheim).