A single goal from Stefan Kießling had nothing supernatural about it this time round in Sinsheim, but like a year previous it was enough to secure a huge three points for Bayer Leverkusen.
Markus Gisdol's side were beginning to pick up wins on a regular basis once more, after a few weeks of uncertainty. Although the loss of Niklas Süle with a torn ACL was a bitter blow, the young defender was replaced by Tobias Strobl. Elsewhere, Eugen Polanski and Anthony Modeste were not in the starting eleven, with Sebastian Rudy and Adam Szalai taking their places.
Leverkusen and Roger Schmidt were disappointed to draw 1-1 with Borussia Mönchengladbach at the weekend, in a game they had plenty of chances in. For this match, the coach made two changes. Roberto Hilbert and Sebastian Boenisch were preferred to Tin Jedvaj and Wendell, as they sought to catch up with second placed Wolfsburg.
Roberto Firmino almost got Hoffenheim off to the perfect start, he capitalised on Ömer Toprak's mistake, but was denied by a fine double save from Bernd Leno. Kevin Volland, who felt he was getting back to his best, also tested Leno. He scrambled across his goal to push away the curling effort, with his defence clearing any remaining danger.
It wasn't long until Oliver Baumann was called into action either. Karim Bellarabi slipped through Stefan Kießling, the striker smashed a shot low and hard across the former-Freiburg stopper, but he got down well and turned it behind for a corner. The game wasn't failing to disappoint, as two attacking sides went at it from the get-go. The usual slick build-up play was there and Kießling went close again, only for his effort to slide just past the post.
Neither side could find a way through, despite an abundance of chances and Heung-Min Son's volley was inches from finding the top corner. The search for the opening goal continued and unfortunately neither could break the deadlock. Although Leverkusen would have been annoyed not to have taken advantage of a half they had control of.
Schmidt's side continued to attack after the break, only to find Baumann unwilling to give them the slightest glimpse of hope. Gonzalo Castro broke the Hoffenheim defensive line, but Baumann managed to turn his shot to safety. For the second season in a row, goal-line technology would have aided the officials in Sinsheim. Adam Szalai powered a header towards goal, but Toprak cleared the ball off the line; however, replays were no help to anyone in regards to making a decision, with Daniel Siebert standing firm despite the heavy Hoffenheim appeals.
Leverkusen continued to press, but Bellarabi, Son and Hakan Cahlanoglu continued to be shut out by a rigid home defence. Kießling had a further opportunity as the half ran on, though his shot skimmed over the bar. A rare Hoffenheim chance game to the fore with twenty minutes left; as Leno split Firmino's drive, but he reacted quickly to smother the ball.
It may have been fourth time lucky; Kiessling would not be denied, however. Substitute Julian Brandt made a break into the Hoffenheim box and he was offered the time to steady himself and pick out the ready-and-waiting Leverkusen forward. There would be no calls of phantom-tor or the need for goal-line technology, as he slid the ball into the empty net and sent the visiting fans into euphoria.
Both had chances at the end, but neither could make them count, as the visitors crept over the line. The win means Leverkusen close the gap on Wolfsburg to four points, even though they drop a place due to Gladbach's 4-1 win over Bremen. Another tough task awaits them on Saturday, as they play host to Eintracht Frankfurt. Hoffenheim will travel to Berlin, although they didn't deserve a point from the game, disappointed. It will be a tough loss to take, especially if footage comes out to prove Szalai's header crossed the line.