BERLIN, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Defending champion Bayer Leverkusen kept the pressure on leader Bayern Munich after a 3-1 win over Hoffenheim in the 20th round of the Bundesliga on Sunday.
The Werkself took control from the kick-off and stunned Hoffenheim inside 15 minutes when Alejandro Grimaldo's through-ball found Victor Boniface, who slotted home with his left foot from ten meters.
Xabi Alonso's men doubled their advantage four minutes later when Aleix Garcia's cut-back allowed Jereme Frimpong to beat Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann from seven meters.
The visitors showed signs of life on the half-hour mark when Erencan Yardimci shot wide from close range after David Jurasek's good work.
Hoffenheim then piled on the pressure against a passive Leverkusen side, but goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky was on hand to deny Tom Bischof and Marios Bulter in the closing stages of the first half.
Leverkusen came out with a full attack and tripled their lead six minutes into the second half when Hoffenheim goalkeeper Luca Philipp spilled Emiliano Buendia's shot into the path of Patrik Schick, who slotted into the top left-hand corner from eight meters out.
The home side's momentum was interrupted by the dismissal of Grimaldo, who received his marching orders on the hour mark for his second bookable offense.
Hoffenheim made the most of its numerical advantage moments later when Leverkusen failed to clear a free kick from inside its own area, allowing Gift Orban to tap home from close range.
However, Hoffenheim was unable to turn the game on its head as Leverkusen defended well against its numerical disadvantage to hold on for all three points.
The result leaves Leverkusen six points adrift of leader Bayern, while Hoffenheim remains within touching distance of the relegation zone.
Elsewhere, third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt held on for a vital draw at home after Can Uzun's equalizer canceled out Tuta's first-half own goal to earn a 1-1 draw with Wolfsburg.
"The energy we brought onto the pitch in the second half was really remarkable. It's a shame we couldn't start the game with the same intensity. With the performance we showed later, a win would have been deserved, but we will take the point," said Frankfurt coach Dino Toppmoller. ■
