Thursday’s Europa League round split the two German clubs neatly into a winner and a worrier. Bayer Leverkusen went to Poland and cruised, while Hoffenheim were beaten on their own pitch once more.
In Poznań, Leverkusen’s afternoon took an early twist when Martin Terrier limped off after roughly a quarter of an hour. His replacement, Patrik Schick, turned the game. Just before the half hour a long shot by Ibrahim Maza hit the arm of Terry Yegbe, and after a video review the Czech striker converted the spot kick. Barely 180 seconds on, the goalkeeper could only push out an effort from Nathan Tella and Malik Tillman bundled in the rebound. Shortly before the interval Schick was hauled down at a corner and scored from the spot a second time.
With a 3-0 cushion the visitors eased off after the break. Afonso Moreira was denied three times in quick succession before he set up Maza for the fourth goal in the 89th minute. Two games, two wins and a 6-0 goal difference: Leverkusen look comfortable, and they host Bundesliga leaders SC Freiburg on Sunday.
Hoffenheim’s evening in Sinsheim was far more painful. Their defender Kōki Machida struck the woodwork in the opening minutes, yet the hosts let Beşiktaş grow into the match. Michael Murillo finished from close range after a corner on the hour, and Fisnik Asllani equalised eight minutes later with a fine solo effort. Then the Turkish side punished loose possession twice: Oh Hyeon-gyu struck in the 72nd and 79th minutes. Machida’s late header only made the 3-2 scoreline look closer.
It was a second Europa League defeat for Christian Ilzer’s team and their fourth loss in a row across all competitions. “We’re making life hard for ourselves,” goalkeeper Oliver Baumann admitted. Lyon visit on 22 October.
