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Bayer Leverkusen delivered a ruthless first half performance, striking three times in just seven minutes, to leave hosts Eintracht Frankfurt reeling with a 4-1 victory in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
With 53 points, Leverkusen are holding strong to second place, sitting 11 points clear of third placed Frankfurt. Bayern Munich remain at the top with 61 points.
The breakthrough came in the 26th minute when Nathan Tella slipped in behind the Frankfurt defence. With a composed first touch, he set himself up before driving a low shot across goal, finding the bottom left corner.
Just three minutes later, Nordi Mukiele extended the lead with a close range finish. The scoring spree was capped off in the 33rd minute when Patrik Schick calmly slotted the ball home from inside the box after latching onto a pass from the line.
Leverkusen’s confidence led to a lapse in concentration, allowing Frankfurt to capitalise. Seven minutes before the break, Hugo Ekitike seized on a misplaced back pass, rounded goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky, and slotted the ball into an empty net.
Leverkusen maintained their dominance in the second half, with Aleix GarcÃa delivering a low long shot in the 62nd minute, following a clearance, that nestled into the far lower corner to seal the fourth and final goal of the night.