Hoffenheim climbed to third place in the Bundesliga after a 1-0 home victory over Bayer Leverkusen, extending an impressive unbeaten run. Wouter Burger’s early free-kick secured a fourth straight game without defeat and pushed Hoffenheim one point ahead of RB Leipzig, who host leaders Bayern Munich later on 17 January 2026.
The match at PreZero Arena stayed tight despite a lively start from Christian Ilzer’s team. Fisnik Asllani and Alexander Prass both tested Mark Flekken in the first half, while Patrik Schick saw a key chance stopped by Oliver Baumann as Leverkusen tried to respond to the early setback.
The decisive goal arrived in the ninth minute from a situation that appeared harmless at first. Burger delivered a right-sided free-kick into
the area, yet the ball evaded every touch, caught Flekken off guard, and dropped into the top corner, giving Hoffenheim an early advantage that shaped the entire Bundesliga contest.
After the break, Hoffenheim continued to threaten, though Leverkusen also pushed forward. Prass sliced a rebound wide from a promising position, before Baumann reacted well to block Alejandro Grimaldo’s free-kick. Tim Lemperle thought a second goal had arrived, but the assistant’s flag ruled the finish offside, keeping the margin narrow.
Hoffenheim’s defence protected the lead with several crucial interventions, particularly from Albian Hajdari and Robin Hranac, who shut down Schick in dangerous situations. Hoffenheim now have six straight Bundesliga home wins, an impressive response after previously losing five consecutive league matches in their own stadium.
Ilzer’s side also edged the expected goals numbers, creating 1.31 xG compared with Leverkusen’s 0.98, reflecting slightly better chances across the 90 minutes. Their broader league form is strong as well, with only one defeat in the last 11 Bundesliga fixtures, recording W8 D2 L1 during that period.
For Leverkusen, the loss continued a frustrating trend at set-plays. Burger’s winner became the 12th goal they have conceded from set-pieces in this Bundesliga campaign, underlining an ongoing weakness that again proved costly against a direct rival for Champions League positions.
The result strengthens Hoffenheim’s push for a Champions League place, backed by reliable home performances and solid defensive structure. With Leipzig and Bayern Munich meeting later on 17 January 2026, the victory ensures Hoffenheim stay firmly positioned near the top of the Bundesliga table, with momentum clearly on their side.
A MASSIVE WIN!!! pic.twitter.com/HfqyJMTUmaTSG Hoffenheim EN (@tsghoffenheimEN) January 17, 2026
