Victor Boniface’s struggles for game time continued on Tuesday night as Bayer Leverkusen suffered a 2-0 defeat to Bayern Munich, sealing a 5-0 aggregate exit from the Champions League round of 16.
After a disappointing 3-0 defeat in the first leg at the Allianz Arena, Leverkusen needed a strong response at home, but their struggles in front of goal continued.
Once again, Alonso preferred Patrik Schick up front, leaving Boniface on the bench for the fourth time in seven matches across all competitions. Meanwhile, his compatriot Nathan Tella remained an unused substitute for the entire 90 minutes.
Schick’s lack of impact saw Alonso introduce the Super Eagles striker in the 65th minute. The Akure-born forward was active but unable to reduce the deficit, registering four blocked shots while failing to hit the target.
Boniface’s growing battle for game time
Since returning from injury in late January, Boniface has struggled to regain his starting spot. His last start came in a goalless draw against Wolfsburg on February 8, and he has played just 141 minutes across seven Bundesliga matches since.
Prior to his 25-minute outing against Bayern, his most recent appearance was a brief 13-minute cameo in Leverkusen’s 4-1 win over Frankfurt.
This season, the 24-year-old has made 20 appearances, starting 13 times, scoring nine goals, and providing one assist while averaging 57 minutes per game. His last goal came in Leverkusen’s 3-2 DFB-Pokal quarter-final win over Köln on February 5.
While the Bundesliga title race is settled, the fight for a UEFA Champions League spot and domestic cup glory is still ongoing. Boniface faces a crucial challenge to regain Alonso’s trust and reclaim his place in the starting XI.
