Kickers Offenbach vs Bayer Leverkusen

Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso made several changes at half-time, and one of them — Victor Boniface — changed the game within four minutes of the restart. Boniface laid the ball off for Jonas Hofmann, the former Germany international, who swept a clinical finish into the bottom corner from 12 yards in the 49th minute.

That goal shifted the momentum decisively. Offenbach had matched their Bundesliga opponents for long stretches of the first half, but once Leverkusen had the lead, the gap in class became more apparent.

Afonso Moreira missed a good chance shortly after, shooting wide from inside the box, but made amends in the 81st minute. Hofmann turned provider, sliding a pass across the face of goal for the Portuguese forward to tap in from close range — his second goal in two pre-season outings.

Jonas Hofmann (Bayer Leverkusen) — the veteran midfielder scored the crucial second goal and set up the third. His composure and movement were a level above the opposition, and his half-time introduction — along with Boniface — was the decisive tactical move.

Christian Kofane (Bayer Leverkusen) — the young Cameroonian striker scored the equaliser and was a persistent threat. His hold-up play and aerial presence gave Leverkusen a focal point they lacked in the opening half-hour.

Keanu Staude (Kickers Offenbach) — opened the scoring with a composed finish and was a constant outlet on the counter. His performance embodied Offenbach's belief that they could compete.

Johannes Benzis (Kickers Offenbach) — made several important saves to keep the scoreline respectable, including one-on-one stops against Kofane and García.

Player of the match: Jonas Hofmann.

The match followed a predictable pattern: Offenbach's early goal came from their only sustained spell of pressure, after which Leverkusen monopolised possession and territory. The Bundesliga side's 3–1 margin reflected their second-half control rather than first-half dominance — the score was 1–1 at the break and could have remained so but for Hofmann's quality finish four minutes after the restart.

Kofane's equaliser was Leverkusen's first shot on target after 30 minutes of frustration, illustrating Offenbach's disciplined defensive shape. The four yellow cards (two each) hinted at a competitive edge unusual for a pre-season friendly.

For Leverkusen, this is back-to-back pre-season wins after their 7–0 thrashing of Balberg last week. Xabi Alonso's side continue their preparations with a midweek fixture against Belgian side Genk on Wednesday 29 July.

For Kickers Offenbach, the performance will encourage manager Christian Neidhart. His Regionalliga side frustrated a Champions League-calibre opponent for long periods and created the game's opening goal. They face another Bundesliga test on Wednesday (29 July, 18:30 local) when VfB Stuttgart visit Bieberer Berg.

"We saw that we don't have to hide at all," Offenbach midfielder Maximilian Wolfram told hessenschau after the match. "It was a very respectable performance from us."

A pre-season friendly that delivered exactly what it should: a celebratory occasion for the lower-league hosts, a useful workout for the Bundesliga side, and a game that was genuinely competitive for an hour. Leverkusen's superior resources eventually told, but Offenbach earned the applause they shared with the visitors after the final whistle.