Hoffenheim 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen Player Ratings: Wouter Burger's Stunning Freekick Upsets Leverkusen in Away Bundesliga Game

TSG Hoffenheim secured a competitive 1-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in a tightly contested Bundesliga match. The result came from an early moment of quality.

Hoffenheim started the game with strong intent. Their pressure paid off in the 9th minute. Wouter Burger scored from a free kick. He curled the ball into the top corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.

That goal proved decisive. Bayer Leverkusen controlled most of the possession after falling behind. However, they struggled to break through Hoffenheim’s well-organized defense.

The home side remained disciplined throughout the match. Their structure limited Leverkusen to few clear chances. Patrik Schick had a difficult game and failed to convert the opportunities he received.

In the end, Hoffenheim’s early goal and solid defending were enough to secure all three points.

Here are Hoffenheim vs Bayer Leverkusen Player Ratings from the Bundesliga game.

Key Takeaways

1. Wouter Burger scored a stunning free-kick in the 9th minute.
2. Leverkusen dominated possession but failed to create clear chances.
3. Hoffenheim held firm defensively to secure a 1–0 victory.

Hoffenheim Player Ratings vs Bayer Leverkusen

Let's check out Hoffenheim player ratings from the match:

Goalkeeper

Oliver Baumann - 7.5: The captain was a calm and assured presence between the sticks. He wasn't tested excessively but made two crucial saves when called upon. What we noticed was his command of the area, especially from crosses late in the game. His distribution was decent, and he managed the game well to secure a vital clean sheet.

Defenders

Vladimír Coufal - 7.0: A solid, if unspectacular, performance from the right-back. He won the majority of his aerial duels and made some key interceptions. He got forward to support the attack, even having a shot on target himself. From our perspective, he was defensively sound and rarely looked troubled, despite being dribbled past a few times.

Robin Hranac - 7.5: An absolute colossus at the back. His 14 clearances tell the story of a defender who was in the right place at the right time, constantly. He was dominant in the air, winning six of his seven aerial battles. The yellow card was a slight blot on his copybook, but his overall contribution was immense in preserving the lead.

Albian Hajdari - 7.5: Alongside Hranac, he formed a formidable barrier. We were impressed by his seven clearances and a crucial last-man tackle. He was strong in the duel winning most of his battles and showed composure on the ball. He even ventured a shot, though it was off target. A very mature and reliable defensive display.

Bernardo - 8.0: An outstanding performance from the left-back. He was a machine, winning an incredible 10 out of 13 duels. His five successful tackles were vital in stopping Leverkusen's attacks down the flank. What stood out was his relentless energy and tenacity. He was a constant thorn in the side of the opposition and a key reason for the clean sheet.

Midfielders

Leon Avdullahu - 7.0: A tidy and effective performance in the middle of the park. He kept the ball moving with an 81% pass accuracy and recovered possession nine times. He also showed his creative side, creating two chances for his teammates. It was an industrious display, providing the perfect balance between defense and attack.

Wouter Burger - 8.5: The undisputed man of the match. His sublime 9th-minute free-kick was a moment of pure magic that decided the game. Beyond the goal, he was everywhere. He created five chances, two of them big ones, and was a constant driving force from midfield. A truly dominant performance that showcased his quality on and off the ball.

Alexander Prass - 7.0: A very lively and creative outing before being substituted. He was a menace with his crossing, creating two good chances for his team. He also wasn't afraid to have a go himself, registering three shots. His work rate was impressive, contributing defensively with tackles and recoveries. A good, energetic shift.

Forwards

Andrej Kramaric - 6.5: A quiet game by his high standards. He struggled to impose himself on the match, losing possession more often than he'd like. However, he still managed to create a big chance, showing that touch of quality he possesses. From our perspective, he worked hard for the team but lacked his usual cutting edge in the final third.

Fisnik Asllani - 6.0: A frustrating afternoon for the attacker. He got into excellent positions and had two shots on target, but he will be disappointed to have missed a big chance that could have sealed the game earlier. His work rate was there, but the final product was just lacking. He was subbed off after 69 minutes.

Tim Lemperle - 6.5: A very busy performance, but one that lacked decisiveness. He had five shots but only one was on target, and he missed two big chances. We noticed he was a willing runner and created a couple of opportunities for others. However, his final touch and finishing let him down on the day.

Substitutes

Grischa Prömel - 6.5: Came on and helped shore up the midfield as Leverkusen pushed for an equalizer. Didn't have a huge impact but did his job effectively.

Valentin Gendrey - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Max Moerstedt - N/A: Came on late and had a shot saved, looking lively in his short cameo.

Ihlas Bebou - N/A: A very late sub to run down the clock.

Manager

C. Ilzer - 8.0: His game plan worked to perfection. Getting the early goal was a bonus, but the defensive structure and discipline his team showed afterward was masterful. They frustrated a top side and completely nullified their attacking threats. The substitutions were managed well to see out the victory. A tactical masterclass.

Bayer Leverkusen Player Ratings vs Hoffenheim

Here are Bayer Leverkusen player ratings from the Bundesliga clash:

Goalkeeper

Mark Flekken - 7.5: Had a very good game before his unfortunate injury. He made five saves inside the box, a few of which were top-class to keep his team in the match. He could do absolutely nothing about the spectacular free-kick goal. It was a real shame to see him forced off after an hour.

Defenders

Robert Andrich - 6.0: Played in a defensive role and looked a bit out of sorts. While he won most of his duels and made some clearances, his passing was not as crisp as usual. He captained the side but couldn't inspire a comeback from the back. A decent but unremarkable performance.

Jarell Quansah - 6.5: A mixed performance. He was strong in the tackle and made some important blocks and clearances. However, he also looked a bit vulnerable at times, picking up a yellow card and losing possession on 15 occasions. There were good moments, but also moments of uncertainty.

Loïc Badé - 7.0: Probably the most composed of Leverkusen's defenders. He was excellent on the ball with 88% passing accuracy and made a vital last-man tackle. His eight clearances were crucial as Hoffenheim threatened on the break. A solid and reliable display in a losing effort.

Midfielders

Alejandro Grimaldo - 6.0: A frustrating game for the wing-back. He saw a lot of the ball, with 89 touches, but his final product was lacking, with only one of his nine crosses finding a teammate. He lost possession far too many times and struggled to create anything meaningful. Not his best day at the office.

Aleix García - 7.0: One of Leverkusen's better performers. He was incredibly neat in possession, completing 92% of his passes and trying to dictate the tempo from deep. He was defensively diligent too, winning his tackles and making clearances. From our perspective, he did his job well, but the players ahead of him failed to deliver.

Ezequiel Fernández - 6.0: A solid if unspectacular first half before being substituted at the break. He was strong in his duels and kept possession well. However, he didn't offer much going forward, which was likely why he was hooked at halftime as Leverkusen chased the game.

Arthur - 5.5: Another player taken off at halftime after an ineffective 45 minutes. He was tidy on the ball but struggled to make any impact in the final third. He lost possession nine times and his attempted dribbles were largely unsuccessful. A disappointing display.

Forwards

Malik Tillman - 6.0: He worked hard and got into some good areas but lacked the quality to make a difference. He created one chance and had one shot off target. It was an industrious performance without any real end product, which summed up Leverkusen's afternoon.

Ernest Poku - 5.5: A very quiet game for the attacker. He struggled to get involved, losing seven of his nine duels and frequently giving the ball away. He was anonymous for large parts of the game before being substituted. A performance he will want to forget quickly.

Patrik Schick - 5.0: The worst performer on the pitch. It was a nightmare of an afternoon for the striker. He missed two big chances that a player of his calibre should be burying. He looked isolated and frustrated, losing 11 duels and completing only half of his passes. A day where nothing went right for him.

Substitutes

Christian Kofane - 6.0: Came on at halftime but couldn't change the flow of the game.

Ibrahim Maza - 6.5: Looked lively after coming on, drawing fouls and trying to make things happen before picking up a knock.

Janis Blaswich - 6.5: Replaced the injured Flekken and made one good save. Had little else to do.

Nathan Tella - N/A: On for a short period before being forced off with an injury himself.

Jonas Hofmann - N/A: A late replacement for the injured Tella.

Manager

K. Hjulmand - 5.5: His team had plenty of the ball but seemed to have no ideas on how to break down a well-drilled Hoffenheim defense. The halftime changes didn't have the desired effect, and his star striker had an off day. It was a frustrating and creatively barren performance from his side, and he couldn't find the answers from the touchline.

Player of the Match

Wouter Burger was the man of the match after scoring a spectacular freekick for Hoffenheim.

Worst Performer

Patrik Schick was unable to showcase his A-game for Bayer Leverkusen.