Only runaway leaders Bayern Munich claimed more points than Leverkusen in their first eight games under Kasper Hjulmand, and after rattling in five goals before the break against Heidenheim before the international break, they were similarly ruthless in the first half here.
The visitors hit the front inside 10 minutes when some neat link-up play down the left between Ernest Poku and Alejandro Grimaldo culminated in the Spaniard’s cutback reaching the back post, where Jonas Hofmann side-footed into the far corner for his second goal in as many games.
Wolfsburg responded well, but after Lovro Majer’s long-range strike was tipped around the post by Mark Flekken, Die Werkself punished the hosts for their inability to equalise.
Edmond Tapsoba rose highest to head home from Aleix Garcia’s stunning cross, and the home crowd’s disappointment only grew when Malik Tillman beat the offside trap just after the half-hour mark and coolly slotted past Kamil Grabara to give Leverkusen a three-goal advantage.
Interim boss Daniel Bauer had plenty to ponder at the break, not least his side’s ineffectiveness in front of goal after seeing Majer denied by Flekken after dispossessing Ibrahim Maza in his own third.
Chances continued to come and go for the hosts after the restart, with Flekken denying Konstantinos Koulierakis and Dzenan Pejcinovic in quick succession before Mohamed Amoura volleyed wide. Wolfsburg’s pressure eventually told when Denis Vavro – making his first appearance of the season – headed home from Maximilian Arnold’s inswinging corner to reduce the arrears.
Poku then missed a gilt-edged chance to restore Leverkusen’s three-goal lead, and that looked costly when Jonas Wind netted within seconds of coming off the Wolfsburg bench, but his celebrations were cut short as the goal was chalked off for the tightest of offsides. Die Wölfe kept pushing despite the setback, with Flekken called into action to thwart Arnold’s powerful strike from distance and Wind’s venomous volley.
The Dutchman’s defiance ultimately ensured Leverkusen could comfortably see out a victory that lifts them into second in the Bundesliga as they responded perfectly to having their 37-game unbeaten away run in the competition ended by Bayern on their last trip. Wolfsburg, meanwhile, could slip into the relegation places this weekend after suffering a fourth successive defeat across all competitions.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Mark Flekken (Bayer Leverkusen)