Bayer Leverkusen coach Robin Dutt felt his side had shown all the qualities of a title-chasing team by defeating Hoffenheim 2-0 last night. "Finally we are winning games we don't play well in," Dutt said. "Of course we are happy with the result, although I must say we have definitely played better games."

The win gave Leverkusen a five-point cushion above seventh-placed Stuttgart and kept them on course for their minimum goal of a place in Europe next season. Hoffenheim's hopes of taking their bow in Europe next season look little more than a dream after yet another defeat left them closer to the relegation zone than the top six.

Coach Holger Stanislawski was understandably disgruntled. "It is hard to pick up points when you concede goals like these," he said. "We are putting in so much effort to create chances, but then we aren't taking them at the moment. That is a big point."