Victor Boniface fired from the spot as Bayer Leverkusen smash Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1, to keep their unbeaten record in all competitions this season.
Coming off a win against Roma in the UEFA Europa League, Leverkusen looked in control as usual, despite manager Xabi Alonso rotating his squad.
Alonso made eight changes to his usual starting lineup, due to their second leg clash against Roma in the European tournament.
However, Die Werkself started strongly, taking the lead early on with a stunning strike from Granit Xhaka.
Frankfurt leveled the score line minutes late, courtesy of Huge Ekitiké’s header after Jonas Hofmann’s initial effort was saved.
But Leverkusen were unfazed, continuing with their ruthless attacks.
A header from Adam Hložek’s cross by Patrik Schick, ensured the visitors picked a first half lead going into halftime.
After halftime, Leverkusen extended their advantage as Exequiel Palacios calmly converted a penalty.
Alonso’s substitutions further bolstered Leverkusen’s dominance, with Jeremie Frimpong adding another goal to their tally.
Boniface sealed the emphatic victory with a late penalty, capping off a memorable night for the German giants.
With the heavy loss, Frankfurt’s hopes for a top-six finish took a hit.
However, they still stand a chance to secure European qualification with upcoming fixtures against Borussia Mönchengladbach or RB Leipzig.
On the other hand, the win serves as a boost for Alonso’s men going into their second leg encounter against Roma in the Europa League.
