Bayer Leverkusen has underpinned its strong early form and clearly put promoted SV Darmstadt 98 in its place in the Bundesliga – also thanks to striker Boniface.
Leverkusen clinched their third win in their third Bundesliga game in a 5-1 (1-1) win over Darmstadt on Saturday. Victor Boniface (21st minute, 61st), Exequiel Palacios (49th), Jonas Hofmann (67th) and Adam Hlozek (83rd) scored the goals, Oscar Vilhelmsson (25th) had meanwhile equalized for Darmstadt.
“It’s everyone’s work: defence, midfield, attack”said Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso to the sports show, “if we can help ‘Boni’: great! But it’s important one to be a team. We’ve done well so far.”
Strange scene in front of Leverkusen opening goal
Led by the control center around Granit Xhaka and DFB player Florian Wirtz, Leverkusen started dominantly and combined effortlessly through the ranks of the Darmstadt team in the early minutes. However, the lead was strange: guest captains Fabian Holland and Fabian Nürnberger rattled together after their own corner, Boniface had almost a clear path from the middle line and completed the lead with a fine lob over “Lilien” keeper Marcel Schuhen. “It’s a goal with a ‘G’schmäckle'”said Darmstadt’s coach Torsten Lieberknecht to the sports show, “I would have expected the referee to blow the whistle when two players hit their heads. But he didn’t see it.”
But the underdog answered promptly. Christoph Klarer extended a free kick from Holland to the second post, Vilhelmsson only had to head in. Leverkusen were briefly impressed, with Jonathan Tah, Palacios and Xhaka, three central Bayer players saw yellow cards early on in the game. Leverkusen remained superior to the field and, apart from a long-range shot from Xhaka (34th), which forced Schuhn to make a brilliant save, had little to offer offensively until the break.
Boniface hangs up for Hofmann
The second round was unchanged. Leverkusen stepped up a gear – and scored immediately: Palacios had too much space from 15 meters out, his shot was deflected by two Lilien players, which was untenable for shoes.
This time the guests could not answer. Instead, the extremely strong Boniface converted a fine pass from Wirtz and hung up for Hofmann. The Nigerian had already scored twice in the 3-0 win in Mönchengladbach last week. Hlozek put the finishing touches.
Leverkusen demanded in Munich, Darmstadt against Gladbach
Leverkusen opens the 4th Bundesliga matchday in Friday evening’s game against Bayern Munich (8.30 p.m.). Darmstadt will continue two days later at home against Borussia Mönchengladbach (5.30 p.m.).