Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso praised his team for managing to control the game with 10 men after they held on to beat Hoffenheim 3-1 in the Bundesliga on Sunday.

Ten-man Bayer Leverkusen defeated lowly Hoffenheim 3-1 to move within six points of leaders Bayern Munich who the champions will host in their next home game in a fortnight. Victor Boniface returned after some three months of injury and recent transfer speculation to open the scoring in the 15th from a left angle,

Bayer Leverkusen move onto 45 points, six behind leaders Bayern Munich after 20 matches, while Hoffenheim remain 15th, just four points above the drop zone