Bundesliga: Bayer Leverkusen claim narrow 1-0 win at Hoffenheim

Stefan Kiessling kept Bayer Leverkusen on course for a place in the Champions League again next season with his third goal of the season giving his side a 1-0 win at Hoffenheim.

The former Germany international struck with just 10 minutes remaining to decide the clash in the Rhein-Neckar-Arena.

Despite winning, though, Leverkusen dropped one position to fourth with Borussia Monchengladbach improving their goal difference against Werder Bremen with both teams on 27 points, four behind second-placed Wolfsburg.

Hoffenheim remain in seventh, but now trail the top four by four points.

Leverkusen have developed a reputation for being the most attack-minded team in the Bundesliga while Hoffenheim do not generally come that far behind in those stakes.

The expectations were therefore for plenty of goals in Sinsheim, but while they did not come, it was not for the lack of trying on both sides.

The home fans showed they had clearly not forgotten Kiessling's phantom goal last season which entered the back of the net via the side-netting, but was still awarded with Leverkusen winning as a result, as they jeered his every touch.

Given the amount of attacking Leverkusen did, that was quite frequent and he went close to breaking the deadlock with a shot which Oliver Baumann turned expertly behind for a corner.

Hakan Calhanoglu, who had been a doubt right up until kick-off with a virus, was his usual dangerous self from set-pieces while Heung-Min Son also wasted numerous chances as the sides went in at the break surprisingly goalless.

Leverkusen started to get on top in the second half with Kiessling at the heart of all the action, and he got his reward in the form of a goal that nobody will be able to dispute this time.

Julian Brandt's cross was met by the former Nurnberg forward, who made no mistake in beating Baumann.

Hoffenheim tried to respond in the final 10 minutes, but Bernd Leno preserved his side's lead with a series of saves.