It's Xabi Alonso's turn to make a change.

And it's an attacking one as Jonas Hofmann comes on for Odilon Kossounou.

Ivan Ordets is shown a yellow card as Nathan Tella threatens to burst away from him. No complaints there.

More changes for Bochum with a few legs beginning to tire as we hit the hour mark.

Lukas Daschner and Matus Bero replace Philipp Hofmann and Anthony Losilla.

Victor Boniface almost gets his second!

The Nigerian races on to a ball and smashes a ferocious shot narrowly wide of the target. That had some power behind it!

The Bochum fans are as lively as ever, arms wrapped around each other as they bounce up and down in the stands. They deserve something to celebrate today, even if it proves a consolation.

It has been a positive first 10 minutes of the second half for Bochum, who are seeing more of the ball and haven't really looked in danger of conceding a third so far.

Not that it matters too much, with the title already settled, but victory today will put Leverkusen 15 points clear of Bayern Munich at the top of the table with one game to go. It really does put their season into context.

The game is back underway, but there's still a lot of smoke around the stadium.

Leverkusen are allowing Bochum have a bit of possession, but the hosts aren't managing to get too far.

Looking at the Bundesliga table, Bochum, in 14th, currently have the same goal difference as 16th-place Union Berlin, who occupy the final relegation spot - three points behind them.

Mainz, in 15th and one point behind Bochum, have a much better goal difference, so Bochum really do need to be careful here, just in case they suffer defeat on the final day.

Blimey, it's going off in the stands! The Bochum supporters have lit several flares and there's a lot of smoke coming from behind Manuel Riemann's goal.

The referee pauses the game while things settle down a bit.

Away we go again.

There's a defensive change for Bochum at the break, as Erhan Masovic replaces Bernardo.

Bayer Leverkusen stand 1.5 league games away from going a full Bundesliga season unbeaten.

It all started so positively for Bochum, who need a point today to secure their Bundesliga safety.

But Felix Passlack's 15th-minute red card, and two Bayer Leverkusen goals shortly before half-time, have likely taken that beyond their reach.

The visitors are in complete control. Will they be keen for more goals in the second half?

Bochum will be wary of their goal difference taking a battering, with the relegation fight going down to the final day...

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

What a job Xabi Alonso has done at Bayer Leverkusen.

When the Spaniard was appointed as manager in October 2022, the club sat second from bottom in the Bundesliga.

They had taken just five points from the first eight games of the campaign, but Alonso led them to a sixth-place finish and European football.

Nobody could have quite predicted the story since. He and his players have produced a season that their supporters will never forget - and it could get even better still.

Image source, Getty Images

Bayer Leverkusen are two goals, and one man, to the good at half-time.

That unbeaten run looks very much like it will extend to a 50th match.

Leverkusen will have a penalty this time!

It's Nathan Tella again who is brought down, this time by Keven Schlotterbeck who receives a yellow card.

Two minutes of added time to come at the end of the first half.

Can Bochum avoid suffering further damage?

Bayer Leverkusen want a penalty as Nathan Tella darts into the box and goes down under a challenge, but both the on-field referee and VAR say no.

If the referee gives it, I'm not sure it would be overturned, put it that way. Relief for Bochum.

Bochum have made it through 25 minutes with 10 men and will be desperate to keep that up until half-time after working so hard to keep this level.

The away fans are urging their team on as they chase a breakthrough, while Xabi Alonso calmly watches on from the dugout.

Arthur produces a few slick stepovers and works his way into the Bochum penalty area before finding Patrik Schick, but three Bochum defenders immediately pounce on the Leverkusen forward.