Despite a major injury to star striker, Victor Boniface, Bayer Leverkusen continued their impressive start to the season as Exequiel Palacios drilled in a stoppage-time goal to give The Black and Reds a dramatic 1-0 win at Augsburg on Saturday.

The victory keep them top of the Bundesliga with a four-point advantage over Bayern Munich who earned a 3-0 win over Hoffenheim on Friday.

The Bundesliga side missed the offensive power of Victor Boniface who they would be without until mid-April due to the groin injury he picked up while on international duty with Nigeria. The injury also sees him miss his maiden Africa Cup of Nations finals in Ivory Coast. 

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Leverkusen struggled to find the back of the net despite creating several chances. “The whole game was very difficult for us, very intense. It wasn’t always easy for us in the last third. The boys believed in victory until the end. The goal wasn’t luck, but the reward of a good job,” manager Xabi Alonso said after the match.

The Nigerian striker is Leverkusen’s top scorer this season with 10 goals and seven assists in 16 league games. He has undergone a successful adductor muscle surgery.

Boniface since joining the Germans in the summer from Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise has been one of the best signings in the league this season.