Jonas Hofmann emerged as the star for Bayer Leverkusen, scoring two quick goals to secure a dominant 2-0 away victory against OFI Crete in the UEFA Europa League. This win on Thursday ensures Leverkusen maintains a flawless record in the group stage.

Hofmann, a crucial addition to Leverkusen's European squad following Martin Terrier's injury, netted both goals before halftime, marking their third consecutive win without conceding. OFI Crete initially threatened through Thiago Nuss, but Leverkusen's goalkeeper Janis Blaswich held firm. Despite OFI's Klidman Lilo making several impressive saves to deny Leverkusen's relentless attacks, Hofmann broke the deadlock in the 35th minute, capitalizing on a rebound from Afonso Moreira's shot. Just three minutes later, he doubled the lead with a powerful strike from outside the box.

Leverkusen's coach Carles Martinez expressed satisfaction with the three points, emphasizing the team's readiness from the start. Leverkusen now sits in second place with nine points and three clean sheets, trailing only Benfica on goal difference. OFI Crete, meanwhile, dropped to 26th with three points. In other Europa League action, Benfica secured a resounding 4-1 win against Omonia, and several other top teams, including Bournemouth, Ferencvaros, and Olympiacos, also registered convincing victories.

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