Bayer Leverkusen may have cruised to a 4-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt, but the spotlight shifted from their dominant performance to a heated clash between teammates.
Striker Victor Boniface, who came on as a second-half substitute, found himself in an unexpected altercation with Emiliano Buendia in the closing minutes of the game.
Missed Opportunity Sparks Frustration
Boniface was desperate to get on the scoresheet after being subbed in late.
With Leverkusen comfortably ahead, he saw an opening to add his name to the scoreline.
However, when Frankfurt failed to clear a cross, Buendia pounced on the loose ball, attempting to take the shot himself.
Unfortunately, he failed to connect properly, leading to a scramble as both players tried to follow up on the opportunity at the same time.
Tempers Flare on the Pitch
The miscommunication quickly turned into a tense moment.
Boniface, visibly frustrated, exchanged words with Buendia before raising his finger and giving him a shove.
The confrontation might have escalated further if teammates hadn’t stepped in to defuse the situation.
The incident highlighted Boniface’s growing frustration over his recent lack of game time.
A Striker Searching for Form
Boniface has been struggling for minutes on the pitch since a potential winter transfer to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia fell through.
He hadn’t started any of Leverkusen’s last three matches, making his eagerness to score understandable.
Brought on in the 78th minute for Nathan Tella, he saw this as a chance to make an impact but ended the match without a goal, extending his scoring drought to nearly a month.
His last goal came on February 5 in the DFB-Pokal against Koln.
Xabi Alonso Downplays the Incident
Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso refused to make a big deal out of the altercation.
Speaking after the match, he acknowledged Boniface’s emotions but insisted the team’s collective effort was the priority.
“He wanted to score a goal. It’s not a problem. We’ll talk about it. The most important thing is the team, the performance, and the result,” Alonso stated.
The coach attributed the striker’s reaction to his competitive nature, emphasizing that passion sometimes boils over in the heat of the moment.
Leverkusen Set Sights on Bayern Clash
Despite the sideline drama, Leverkusen’s dominant performance left Alonso pleased.
“I’m very happy, very proud. From the start, we showed we were fully focused, in every action, both with and without the ball. A complete performance with a great scoreline.”
With this convincing victory in the books, Leverkusen now shifts their focus to an even bigger challenge: a Champions League last-16 showdown against Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich.
The team will need to keep their emotions in check as they prepare for a high-stakes clash that could define their European campaign.