Bayer Leverkusen 2 - 0 Hoffenheim : Hoffenheim dealt European blow

Posted Sunday, May 17, 2015 by PA

Bayer Leverkusen all but ended Hoffenheim's hopes of qualifying for Europe next season with a 2-0 win at the BayArena which was not enough to keep them in the hunt for third place in the Bundesliga.

Hakan Calhanoglu and Stefan Kiessling scored the goals for Roger Schmidt's men, who are certain to end the season fourth after third-placed Borussia Monchengladbach won in Bremen.

Hoffenheim can still climb to seventh when they host Hertha Berlin on the final weekend of the season, but they would then be dependent on Dortmund winning the DFB-Pokal to help them into the Europa League.

Oliver Baumann made a great save to deny Calhanoglu, who had Leverkusen's first chance of the game from a free-kick, showing why set-pieces are his speciality.

It also suggested that Baumann was going to have a busy afternoon, and so it proved with the Hoffenheim number one was tested again soon after by Son Heung-min.

Wendell missed the target before Calhanoglu converted, albeit from an offside position.

The Turkish midfielder was given one more chance to score before half-time, with another free-kick, and this time he made no mistake, even if he was almost 45 yards from goal.

His shot did not seem irresistible, but it still squirmed under Baumann for his eighth goal from a direct free-kick this season.

Calhanoglu turned provider with his next intervention in the 61st minute, his cross an open invitation for Kiessling to tuck in Leverkusen's second, holding his nerve to beat Baumann.

Kiessling could have added a personal second, but he could not quite get the ball under control as another chance went begging for the dominant hosts.

The points were already in the bag, though, and Schmidt was able to give Simon Rolfes his moment by withdrawing him on his final home game for the club to allow the fans to give him a standing ovation.

The rest of the squad was given an ovation too at the final whistle, even if the win means they will be back at the BayArena earlier than had been hoped next season, for a Champions League play-off match.