The Albany Gazette - Boniface helps dominant Leverkusen cut Bayern lead to six points

The 24-year-old was stood down from training last week as he explored a transfer to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Saudi side Al-Nassr.

The deal fell through on Wednesday and Boniface was given a surprise start by coach Xabi Alonso.

Boniface, who had not played for Leverkusen since injuring his thigh on international duty with Nigeria in November, opened the scoring in the 15th minute.

Collecting a ball from Alex Grimaldo to the right of goal, Boniface blasted a powerful left-foot shot through the hands of visiting goalkeeper Luca Philipp.

Just four minutes later, Jeremie Frimpong doubled Leverkusen's lead. The Dutchman flew down the right flank, took one touch and superbly found the far corner.

Leverkusen looked set to stretch their lead in the 24th minute when Nathan Tella was felled in the box, but the decision was overturned by VAR.

The referee explained the decision over stadium speakers, a Bundesliga first, as part of a test programme introduced this weekend.

Boniface made way for Patrik Schick at half-time and the Czech striker scored six minutes later, slamming in a rebound after some clever work from Aston Villa loanee Emi Buendia, on his Leverkusen debut.

Schick has 14 goals in his past 10 league games.

Leverkusen, who have given up a league-high 13 points from winning positions this season, were made to sweat when they lost Grimaldo to a second yellow card and conceded a goal to Gift Orban inside two minutes.

Alonso's men however held on to stay in touch with Bayern, who visit Leverkusen's BayArena in two weeks.

Praising his side's "total control", Alonso said the successful return would do Boniface good and admitted his side have "some good competition in the striker position".

"It was important for Boni to feel like a part of the team again. It was important to play at home and feel the love from the fans."

- Uzun rescues Frankfurt -

Can Uzun's 81st-minute goal took Eintracht Frankfurt to a 1-1 home draw with Wolfsburg, cancelling out an embarrassing Tuta own goal early in the second half.

Frankfurt looked tired after Thursday's 2-0 Europa League loss at Roma, lacking the fluency and bite which has propelled them into the top four this season.

Five minutes into the second half, Frankfurt and Tuta made a meal of a less than dangerous long ball, with the Brazilian unaware the lightning-fast Mohamed Amoura was approaching.

Under Amoura's pressure, Tuta tipped the ball past goalkeeper Kevin Trapp and into his own net.

With nine minutes remaining and the hosts on the attack, midfielder Jean-Matteo Bahoya whipped in a cross for fellow 19-year-old Uzun.

The Turkey midfielder jumped highest, heading in from close range to level.

Frankfurt looked more likely to score a winner in the dying stages as the game grew increasingly wild, Uzun lashing just over in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

The Wolves held on to claim a valuable point, climbing above Borussia Dortmund into 10th but just four points shy of fourth place in a congested mid-table.

The draw takes Frankfurt five points clear of fourth-placed RB Leipzig, who were held to a scoreless draw at Union Berlin on Saturday.

Frankfurt defender Arthur Theate, who extended his deal at the club until 2029 on Sunday morning, admitted his team were "tired".

"We didn't bring what we wanted -- the intensity was too low, we weren't aggressive against ball.

"But we came back and that's the good thing to take out of tonight."

(P.Davis--TAG)