Bayer Leverkusen have established a comfortable 2-0 lead midway through their Bundesliga clash with relegation-threatened Hamburger SV.
Leverkusen were gifted the opening goal in the seventh minute when Heiko Westermann's mistake while attempting to clear a Karim Bellarabi delivery allowed Gonzalo Castro to collect the loose ball and fire home.
Predictably, the hosts dominated proceedings after breaking the deadlock and they wasted a half-chance when Tin Jedvaj sliced an effort wide.
The pace of Bellarabi continued to be a problem for the struggling visiting defence, and the attacking midfielder tested Rene Adler with a powerful long-range strike which the goalkeeper held onto impressively.
Castro made another vital contribution before the break as he sprinted into space on the wing before picking out Stefan Kiessling, who headed home from close range to double Leverkusen's advantage.
Callum Mulvihill
