Leipzig effectively ended the contest before half-time, racing into a four-goal lead through braces from Christoph Baumgartner and Brajan Gruda. Benjamin Henrichs then capped the performance late on with a goal on his return from injury.

Werner highlighted the sharpness his side had been missing in recent weeks. "We showed real aggression early on, and this time our efficiency was high," he said. "It was a top team performance, with several outstanding individual displays."

The breakthrough came in the 17th minute when Gruda reacted quickest to convert after Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann parried an initial effort. Just four minutes later, Baumgartner doubled the lead, rising to head home from a well-delivered cross.

Leipzig were relentless. On the half-hour mark, Baumgartner struck again with a superb first-time volley after controlling a lofted pass, making it 3-0. Before the break, Gruda added his second, finishing at the far post to complete a dominant first-half display.

Werner reserved special praise for the young forward. "Brajan is still developing, but we asked him to get into scoring positions consistently. He has shown he can do it - now he must repeat it."

Hoffenheim improved slightly after the interval, with Grischa Promel going closest, but Leipzig remained in full control. Henrichs then sealed the win late on, driving home from a tight angle after a long spell out injured.

Werner acknowledged the emotional significance of that moment. "You could see what it meant to him and to the team. He's very important for us, on and off the pitch."

The win lifted Leipzig into the top three and strengthened their push for Champions League qualification. However, Werner remained cautious. "We cannot expect results like this every week. We must stay focused and give everything in every game."

With momentum restored after their setback in Stuttgart, Leipzig now turn their attention to their next test against Werder Bremen, aiming to maintain their charge in the closing stages of the season.

Steffen Baumgart leads Union Berlin to Bundesliga safety