BERLIN – Bayer Leverkusen battled back into Champions League contention on Friday with a 3-0 victory over VfL Wolfsburg, who saw their own hopes of European football next season severely dented with six matches left.
Teenager Julian Brandt fired in after 27 minutes and Mexican Javier Hernández stunned the visitors with a cleverly curled shot.
Today’s assists came from @hakanc10, @KimoBellarabi and @CH14_ !
Great team effort today!#B04WOB | 3:0 pic.twitter.com/D9Y4s4Ujxj
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) April 1, 2016
Talented Ukrainian Vladen Yurchenko made it 3-0 in the 87th minute with a crisp drive for his first goal with the German club, who recorded their third win in a row and moved into fourth spot on 45 points, three off third-placed Hertha Berlin.
Wolfsburg, facing Real Madrid in the Champions League last eight next week, were toothless once again, having now scored only once in their last three league matches to stay stuck in eighth on 38, four off the European spots.
Hakan Calhanoglu came close to adding a second goal for the hosts a minute after the restart but his low drive, from a well-timed Brandt back flick, sailed narrowly wide.
Hernandez then pounced on a defensive error but failed to beat keeper Diego Benaglio in their one-on-one. He was flawless in his execution in the 74th, however, curling a shot past the Swiss from the edge of the box for his 15th goal of the campaign.
That beauty of a goal was #Chicharito‘s 15th of the #Bundesliga season!#B04WOB | 2:0 pic.twitter.com/4ZQKKLQ6iZ
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) April 1, 2016
Wolfsburg, last season’s runners’ up and German Cup winner, had to wait for almost an hour for their first shot on goal, despite the inclusion of forward Max Kruse, who had been thrown out of the German squad days ago following several off-the-pitch incidents in recent months.
They have managed just two wins in their last seven league matches.
Leaders Bayern Munich on 69 points, host Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday while Borussia Dortmund, in second place five points behind, entertain Werder Bremen.