Bayer Leverkusen 3–1 VFL Bochum Player Ratings: Bayer Maintain Pressure on Bayern in the Title Race With a Fine Win
Bayer Leverkusen won against VFL Bochum at Bay Arena with a 3-1 scoreline. The defending champions took the lead through Alex Garcia, but Felix Passlack drew Bochum level almost immediately. Victor Boniface scored to give them the lead, and Amine Adli put the game beyond doubt in the second half. Leverkusen did well to see off late pressure from Bochum to seal all three points.
Xabi Alonso admitted they aimed to put pressure on the leaders Bayern before the game in a presser. He had to cope without the influential Florian Wirtz, who is eyeing a return in late April. Alonso had no injuries from the international break. Alonso went ultra-attacking as he started the strike pair of Victor Boniface alongside Patrick Schick. It meant they lined up in a 3-5-2 on the pitch.
Dieter Hecking saved VFL from a certain relegation. They are still 5 points off of safety, but they believe they can get the job done. His first game in charge of Bochum was a surprise 1-1 draw with Leverkusen at home. He was hoping to replicate those heroics and continue the giant-killing run following the thrilling 3-2 win against Bayern Munich recently. He made a single change to the side that lost 1-3 to Frankfurt and fielded a 5-3-2. Myron Boadu was left on the bench once again.
Bayer Leverkusen started the game with more intent in front of a bouncing home crowd. VFL Bochum also came to play as they were not afraid of the occasion. Jeremie Frimpong had the first sight of goal for Leverkusen as he tested Timo Horn with a curling effort from inside the box.
Aleix Garcia delivered the opener for the dominant hosts in the 20th minute in style. He picked a simple pass from Exequiel Palacios between the lines and opened his body up from outside the box before curling a lovely finish into the net with his right foot. The lead didn’t last for long as Bochum hit back in the 26th minute with a sensational goal.
They had to thank Granit Xhaka for a calamitous back header that released Giorgos Masouras. Lukas Hradecky did well to deny him, but the rebound fell for Felix Passlack on the edge of the box. The 26-year-old took a touch before firing an unstoppable volley past a scrambling Hradecky.
Bochum settled into their defensive shell and forced Leverkusen to play their game. The away side soaked in a lot of pressure and ripped up the script of an easy win for the hosts. The hosts needed to break them down to maintain any chances of sustaining a title race.
Boniface started the second half with a flashing spin to create separation and pop a shot at Horn, who was alert. Bochum then had a rapid break that resulted in a shot and sounded as a warning bell to the hosts.
The hosts summoned the energy of the crowd when a free kick from Alex Garcia found Piero Hincapie at the back post. The defender squared it across the face of the goal as Boniface turned it home with his thighs on the hour mark. With 30 minutes left to play, Bayer were the favourites if they could prevent Bochum from finding another equaliser.
As the hosts took a 2-1 lead, in-game management was the key for them. They wanted to prevent injuries and preserve the players. However, as long as it was only a single goal lead, the contest was never over. Bochum kept believing they could nick something on the night.
Frimpong had a fantastic chance to score on a break, but fingertips from Hron denied him. Boniface scored, but to his dejection, the offside flag was raised. There we no complaints late in the game as Amine Adli raced onto a through ball from Palacios before calmly firing it past Horn. It put the game beyond doubt.
Bayer Leverkusen picked up 3 crucial points to cut Bayern Munich’s lead to only 3 points in the first spot. Bayern do have a game in hand, but they will be wary of the threat posed by Leverkusen. Leverkusen will now turn their attention to the semifinals of the DFB-Pokal Cup, where they take on Arminia Bielefeld away from home.
VFL Bochum failed to capitalise on that crazy victory against Bayern Munich, as they fell apart in this big game. Relegation is still a possibility, but they enter a favourable run of form hoping to pick some points and swim to safety. They will host Stuttgart at home next weekend.
Here are Bayer Leverkusen vs VFL Bochum Player Ratings.
Bayer Leverkusen Player Ratings
GK – Lukas Hradecky – 6/10
Made a sensational save to deny a sure-shot goal from Masouras. However, he couldn’t do much against the rebound, despite getting fingertips to it.
CB – Nordi Mukiele – 7.5/10
Involved in some aggressive channel defending as Bochum possessed a good threat down their left-hand side through Holtmann.
CB – Jonathan Tah – 7/10
Sitting in the middle of a back three, he saw a lot of the ball and charged forward with aggression to win some tackles.
CB – Piero Hincapie – 8/10
Played some incredible long balls across the pitch to relieve some pressure and drive his side forward. A lovely through pass to find Schick, who couldn’t trap the ball nicely. Played it across the face of the goal and found Boniface.
RM – Jeremie Frimpong – 6.5/10
Always on the prowl on the right wing with his pace. Shot straight at Horn when he had a clear chance to score. Joined the defence whenever they needed him.
CM – Granit Xhaka – 6/10
A disastrous back header released Masouras, and it eventually led to the equaliser for Bochum. He did make a tidy job with passing throughout the game.
CM – Aleix Garcia – 8/10
Scored the opener with sensational technique. Received the ball between the lines so often and drove at the opposition.
CM – Exequiel Palacios- 8.5/10
Created a chance early on for Frimpong with a lovely reverse pass into the box. His assist was a rather simple square pass into the path of Garcia. Picked up another late assist with a lovely through ball for Adli.
LM – Alejandro Grimaldo – 7/10
He intended to attack the opposition’s box and put them under siege. Succeeded to an extent as he pinned them down nd sent a couple of crosses in.
ST – Victor Boniface – 8/10
Dropped deep multiple times to pick the ball and was always playing on the wings to press and create chances. A smart finish from two yards out to give them the lead again.
ST – Patrick Schick – 5/10
Connected the play and linked midfield with attack well by some nimble touches and smart hold-up play. A better first touch could’ve gotten him a clean 1v1 with Horn. The man with 17 goals in the league couldn’t get a clear sight of it today at all.
Sub – Amine Adli – 7/10
A well-taken finish to put the game beyond doubt.
Sub – Arthur – N/A
Sub – Emiliano Buendia – N/A
Sub – Robert Andrich – N/A
Manager – Xabi Alonso – 7/10
Went heavy at the top by starting both Boniface and Schick alongside each other. It didn’t yield the desired result in the opening 45 minutes as they struggled to create chances against a deep block. A set piece helped his side, but they have to raise the floor to stand a chance of defending their title.
VFL Bochum Player Ratings
GK – Timo Horn – 6/10
A decent save to deny Frimpong in the 9th minute. He had no reply to Garcia’s opener, however.
RWB – Felix Passlack – 7.5/10
A fantastic finish any striker would be proud of. Attacked the box, picked up the rebound and lashed his right boot to draw them level.
CB – Tim Oermann – 6/10
He was solid in the box, especially while making challenges on the mercurial Boniface. Showed great positional awareness by making multiple interceptions. He was repeatedly targeted by Boniface to spin and create space.
CB – Ivan Ordets – 6/10
Defended his box with his everything as he cut crosses into the box. Put some fine challenges 1v1 to win the ball cleanly.
CB – Maximilian Wittek – 7/10
Carried the ball forward whenever he had the chance to add an extra body to a midfield that was dominated by Leverkusen.
LWB – Gerrit Holtmann – 7/10
He was able in defence as he had to expertly deal with Frimpong. Made sure he would cause a problem or two for Mukiele going the other way.
CM – Matus Bero – 6.5/10
Always under pressure from Leverkusen’s midfield, he was able to turn away and play some neat passes. They should have scored from a fast break they had in the second half.
CM – Ibrahima Sissoko – 6/10
A supreme ball winner in the middle of the park. Had great chances to create plenty of turnovers, but his lack of quick thinking denied him.
CM – Tom Krauss – 6.5/10
Kept things simple when things were at high speeds around him. Made the needed defensive interventions accordingly.
ST – Philipp Hofmann – 6.5/10
Showcased good buildup play to bring the other forwards into play. He was full of energy as he was always guiding his teammates on when and where to press. He started and orchestrated multiple moves.
ST – Giorgos Masouras – 6.5/10
He ran through on goal when Xhaka carelessly played a pass into his path, but could only manage to draw a save from Hradecky. Won plenty of balls and started the counter himself.
Sub – Myron Boadu -6/10
Sub – Moritz Broschinski- 6/10
Sub – Dani de Wit-6/10
Manager – Dieter Hecking – 6/10
His team sat back as expected and went flying forward whenever they had the chance. A fantastic goal from Passlack helped them draw level and keep the game alive in the second half. A lack of concentration during a set piece cost his side as they fell short.
Sportsdunia’s Player of the Match: Exequiel Palacios
Also Read: Bayern München 2–3 VfL Bochum Player Ratings: Bochum Stun Bayern in a Dramatic Comeback Victory
Have Bochum ever won at Bay Arena in the Bundesliga?
VFL Bochum have lost all three games they have played against Leverkusen at the Bay Arena.
What was the biggest deficit that was overturned after MD26 to win the title?
Stuttagrt overturned a seven-point deficit after MD26 to win the league title.
Who was the best player in Bayer Leverkusen vs VFL Bochum?
Exequiel Palacios was the best player in Bayer Leverkusen vs VFL Bochum.
Who was the worst player in Bayer Leverkusen vs VFL Bochum?
Patrick Schick was the worst player in Bayer Leverkusen vs VFL Bochum.