With four goals and four assists, Jonas Hofmann is a guarantee for success at the league leader. Now a Bundesliga record beckons for the Leverkusen summer purchase.
Jonas Hofmann is also likely to be part of Leverkusen’s starting eleven on Saturday in Wolfsburg. Not only because coach Xabi Alonso prefers not to change his starting lineup at all in the league. But especially because the 31-year-old has hit the ground running at Leverkusen following his move from Borussia Mönchengladbach. This can also be proven in purely statistical terms: Hofmann has not failed to score in a single Bundesliga match for Bayer 04, has been directly involved in at least one goal in all seven games, and has scored four goals and provided four assists.
Hofmann beckons a Bundesliga record
If the right-footer manages to continue this series on Saturday in Wolfsburg, he would set a Bundesliga record. So far, only Mark Uth (2019/20 for 1. FC Köln) and Luca Toni (1988/89 for Bayern Munich) have managed to score at least one goal in their first eight Bundesliga games for their new club. Now this high score beckons to Hofmann, which would ensure that his performances are even more in the spotlight. For despite his outstanding stats, the focus has so far been more on players such as the spectacular center forward Victor Boniface, the absolute boss in defensive midfield Granit Xhaka, or the left back Alejandro Grimaldo, who has repeatedly acted as a playmaker.
Extremely important for the Leverkusen game
Hofmann is already extremely highly rated by his coach, however. No wonder. The German international not only radiates a high scoring ability. In fact, he is a crucial flywheel for the Werkself’s game, provides a flow of play, ideas, creates spaces, sets the rhythm despite his very far forward position on the offensive half-right in a 3-4-3.
The verdict of Xabi Alonso is the same: “Jonas is very intelligent, has a high level of intuition as to where he needs to be on the pitch, when he needs to make which decision, when he needs to play quickly, when he needs to be aggressive or when he needs to control the game,” praises the former midfield strategist, “He has this experience. I’ve always had that feeling with him since he’s been here.”
Hofmann is someone who not only possesses these diverse qualities, but also confirms them time and again, an absolute guarantee in fact. “He’s a good player, but he’s also aggressive in the penalty area, he also wants to score goals,” praises Xabi Alonso, “we’re very happy he’s here.” This is true even if Hofmann’s streak snaps on Saturday – and even more so if he extends it further.