Bayer Leverkusen marked their return to the BayArena with a welcome first victory of their Bundesliga campaign.
Leverkusen were forced to play seven matches in the Dusseldorfer Arena while their stadium was being redeveloped earlier this year, managing just one victory.
Coach Jupp Heynckes this week expressed hope that Leverkusen's home record would improve with the return to their own stadium, and it will have been of little concern that his team's winner today owed plenty to good fortune.
Stefan Kiessling made the difference, scoring in the 67th minute, although there was scarcely any skill involved on his part.
Renato Augusto was the player who took aim at goal from the right of goal and his shot struck Kiessling, with a wicked deflection taking the ball past the wrong-footed Timo Hildebrand.
Leverkusen began well and Tranquillo Barnetta went close after 17 minutes when he broke through the Hoffenheim defensive line and struck a powerful shot which Hildebrand parried away expertly.
Vedad Ibisevic should then have fired Hoffenheim ahead when he was sent clear, only to be thwarted by Rene Adler in the home goal.
Leverkusen's former Liverpool captain Sami Hyypia then had a header cleared off the line before the interval.
Kiessling almost put Leverkusen ahead just a minute before his goal, when he skipped through the Hoffenheim defence but saw Hildebrand make an alert save.
His lucky break then made the difference, and with 11 minutes remaining Augusto had a chance to stretch Leverkusen's lead, but his shot was weak and no trouble for Hildebrand.
Adler made a crucial save as the game entered the final 10 minutes, when he plucked Demba Ba's header out of the air following a menacing cross, and Kiessling was denied at the other end in similar circumstances by Hildebrand in the 89th minute.
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