The visitors, desperately in need of a victory in their pursuit of the top four, came agonisingly close to opening the scoring with 13 minutes on the clock when a cross into the area from the right touchline from Aleix Garcia found Martin Terrier unmarked, but the forward saw his effort come back off the crossbar.
With opportunities few and far between in the first half, a rare bright moment saw Christian Kofane head a cross goalwards just after the half-hour mark, but Daniel Heuer Fernandes was able to get across and gather the ball.
None of Hamburg’s previous five Bundesliga matches were goalless at half-time, but this always looked the likeliest outcome after a first period which lacked attacking quality from both sides.
Die Rothosen failed to register a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes. However, they would have been pleased with their defensive efforts as they kept the league’s sixth-highest scorers at bay.
Although Hamburg lost to Leipzig last time out, that was their first defeat in seven games, with that run of form helping them to build a useful buffer to the relegation zone. However, as the game entered the final 20 minutes, their stubborn resistance was eventually broken.
Ibrahim Maza chipped a ball into the area, which found Kofane, and the forward fired past Heuer Fernandes at his near post to send the travelling supporters wild and earn a much-needed win for the 2023/24 champions.
The result, which saw Leverkusen keep an away clean sheet in the league for the first time this season, moves Die Werkself to within three points of the top four, as they remain sixth and still have everything to play for.
Meanwhile, a dejected Hamburg stay 11th and four points above the relegation zone, with Die Rothosen having recorded just one win this term against sides currently in the top half.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Ibrahim Maza (Bayer)
