Victor Boniface made a triumphant return to the German Bundesliga, playing a pivotal role in Bayer Leverkusen’s 4-1 win over Hoffenheim on Saturday. The Nigerian striker, fresh from a suspension in his previous game, showed no signs of rust as he scored two goals and provided an assist to help his team secure an important away victory.
Boniface started his day by setting up Leverkusen’s first goal in the 17th minute. With a perfectly timed pass, he assisted Martin Terrier, who finished calmly to give the visitors the lead. This moment marked the beginning of what would be a standout performance from the 23-year-old forward.
Not long after, in the 30th minute, Boniface doubled Leverkusen’s advantage. After receiving a pass from Granit Xhaka, Boniface fired a powerful shot past Hoffenheim’s goalkeeper, Oliver Baumann, giving Leverkusen a 2-0 lead. Despite Hoffenheim pulling one back before halftime through Mergim Berisha, Leverkusen stayed in control of the game.
In the second half, Leverkusen continued to dominate. Florian Wirtz added a third goal in the 72nd minute, scoring from the penalty spot after Hoffenheim’s Dennis Geiger fouled Alejandro Grimaldo in the box.
With the game winding down, Boniface sealed the result in the 75th minute. Showing his individual skill, he dribbled past Hoffenheim defenders before slotting the ball past Baumann, completing his brace and ensuring Leverkusen’s comfortable victory.
Leverkusen’s coach, Xabi Alonso, praised the team’s performance, saying, “It was an important test for us to not concede a second goal after going 2-0 up. We reacted well, and this time we controlled the game better and were more stable until the end.”
The win was significant for Leverkusen, who had suffered a 3-1 defeat to RB Leipzig in their previous match, ending a remarkable 35-game unbeaten run in the Bundesliga. This latest victory extended their away unbeaten streak to 19 games, the second-longest in Bundesliga history after Bayern Munich’s 33-match record.
Boniface’s performance comes at a crucial time for Leverkusen as they prepare to begin their Champions League campaign next week against Dutch side Feyenoord. His ability to influence games both as a scorer and playmaker will be key to Leverkusen’s ambitions in both domestic and European competitions this season.
Nathan Tella, Boniface’s Nigerian teammate, also started the match but was substituted in the 57th minute, while Boniface was replaced by Patrick Schick just before the final whistle, having left an undeniable impact on the game.
