Victor Boniface scored one and helped assist two goals as Bayer Leverkusen cruised to a 3-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday to remain Bundesliga leaders with four points clear.
Unbeaten in the league this season, Xabi Alonso’s team went ahead in the 14th minute when 22-year-old Nigeria forward, Boniface powered into the box and struck a low shot past two defenders and goalkeeper Kevin Trapp for his ninth goal of the season.
Last week, Leverkusen’s Boniface was named Bundesliga Rookie of the Month, one of many individual awards this season.
Alejandro Grimaldo’s 35th-minute free kick slid off the crossbar before Jeremie Frimpong doubled their advantage in the 51st on the rebound after Trapp saved a Boniface shot.
The striker then sent Florian Wirtz through with a clever pass for their third goal six minutes later with the Germany international chipping the ball over the keeper.
Leverkusen, who hit the woodwork twice late in the game through Wirtz and Piero Hincapie, are on 39 points with champions Bayern Munich, who have a game in hand, second on 35 following their 3-0 win over VfB Stuttgart.
“We did not have enough control in the first half,” Xabi Alonso said. “It was not easy. We improved considerably in the second half. We dominated and created lots of chances.”
“As for the Bundesliga lead at the moment it is not something I think about,” he said.
The Bundesliga stops for a winter break after next week’s matches on Tuesday and Wednesday and will resume on Jan. 12.
