Bayer Leverkusen suffered a 3-0 away defeat at TSG Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga. The team, sitting fourth in the table with 13 points from six games, failed to extend a recent run of four wins and a draw. Andrej Kramarić converted a late penalty in the 79th minute to open the scoring, a goal that also marked the 1000th in Hoffenheim's Bundesliga history.
The match was goalless at halftime despite Leverkusen starting strongly. The decisive penalty was awarded after Edmond Tapsoba fouled Fisnik Asllani in the box. Alexander Prass made it 2-0 in the 89th minute, celebrated by removing his shirt, and was sent off with a second yellow card in stoppage time. Max Moerstedt then scored Hoffenheim's third in the sixth minute of added time after a Kramarić header hit the crossbar.
Bayer Leverkusen manager Carles Martinez made just one change from the Europa League win over Lyon, starting Nathan Tella in place of Afonso Moreira. The team failed to extend a run of three consecutive wins and remains in fourth place in the table with 13 points from six matches. Their overall record this season shows 16 goals scored and nine conceded. They are four points behind leaders Borussia Dortmund.
Andrej Kramarić, voted Man of the Match, said of his historic goal: "verwandelte sicher zum 1:0 (79.), zugleich das 1000. Bundesliga-Tor der TSG-Vereinsgeschichte". For Hoffenheim, it was a first win after four straight league defeats.
Bayer Leverkusen now turns its focus to the next fixture, a home match against VfB Stuttgart on October 31. The opponent currently sits 15th in the table. The current standings show Leverkusen in fourth, while this season's top scorer, Patrik Schick, has six goals. The full schedule of upcoming games is on the fixtures page.
Further reading: Bild Sport
On Monday evening, Bayer Leverkusen announced that Loïc Badé suffered a skull contusion. The defender was substituted after a collision in the 89th minute against Hoffenheim. Manager Carles Martínez said Badé was "completely out" for about a minute and a half. Moussa Diaby is out with a fascia injury in his thigh. The club confirmed Diaby will not return until after the international break in November at the earliest. Leverkusen, fourth with 13 points, faces Nürnberg in the cup on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the club confirmed that Moussa Diaby is out with a fascia injury in his thigh. Manager Carles Martínez said the attacker could return at the earliest after the international break in November. Leverkusen, fourth in the Bundesliga with 13 points, now has eight injured players. The team plays Nuremberg in the cup on Wednesday.
