It leaves Leverkusen eight points behind Bayern before it hosts the Bavarian powerhouse for a top-two meeting next Saturday. Leverkusen had been hoping to use that game to cut the gap to three points, but the slip-up at Wolfsburg means it will take an unprecedented collapse from Bayern for Leverkusen to defend its first ever league title.

Bayer Leverkusen move onto 45 points, six behind leaders Bayern Munich after 20 matches, while Hoffenheim remain 15th, just four points above the drop zone

Bayer Leverkusen kept pace with Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich by beating Hoffenheim 3-1 on Sunday with goals from Victor Boniface, Patrik Schick and Jeremie Frimpong. Leverkusen finished with 10 players after Álex Grimaldo’s sending off with half an hour to play.