Bayer Leverkusen ended SC Freiburg's unbeaten start to the season with a 2-1 home win, extending their own winning run. The decisive goal came in the 76th minute from Patrik Schick, who has now scored in all six Bundesliga matchdays this campaign. The forward is the team's top scorer this season with six goals.
Derry Scherhant had given the visitors a surprise lead in the 14th minute. The Werkself responded immediately, with Ibrahim Maza equalising just five minutes later. The match developed into an open contest thereafter, only settled by Schick's late strike.
This fifth consecutive Bundesliga victory solidifies Bayer Leverkusen's hold on fourth place in the standings. Under coach Carles Martínez, the team has collected 13 points from six games and sits just one point behind leaders Bayern Munich. Their current form shows five wins from their last five competitive matches, including the 2-1 home victory over Freiburg on Sunday 18 October, a 4-0 away win at Lech Poznan on Thursday 15 October, a 4-3 success at Mainz on Saturday 10 October, and the 2-0 wins against RB Leipzig and Celje. Their league record stands at four wins and a draw from six matches, with 16 goals scored and nine conceded.
Freiburg's run snapped
For previously unbeaten SC Freiburg, this was a first defeat of the campaign. Coach Julian Schuster had made eight changes to his starting lineup following a Europa Conference League fixture. A protest by away fans throwing tennis balls caused a five-minute interruption.
Jürgen Bergener summarised the match: „Bayer Leverkusen has inflicted the first defeat of the season on SC Freiburg. In the narrow home win for the Werkself, Maza and Schick scored.“ In front of 30,210 spectators at the BayArena, Leverkusen secured three key points in the tight race at the top.
Leverkusen's next assignment is an away fixture against 14th-placed TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Sunday 25 October. The team aims to continue its successful streak on the road and maintain pressure on the sides above them.
Further reading: sportschau.de
Patrik Schick set a new club record with his winning goal against Freiburg. The striker is the first player in Bayer Leverkusen's history to score on each of the first six matchdays of a Bundesliga season, the club confirmed on Wednesday. Schick surpassed the previous mark of five matchdays held by Dimitar Berbatov and Stefan Kießling. "Of course that makes me proud," Schick said. "Six in a row, it's very nice." Leverkusen are in fourth place with 13 points.
On Wednesday, the club confirmed that Patrik Schick set a new club record with his winning goal against Freiburg. The striker is the first player in Bayer Leverkusen's history to score in the opening six matchdays of a Bundesliga season. Schick thereby surpassed the previous mark of five matchdays held by Dimitar Berbatov and Stefan Kießling. "That makes me proud, of course," said Schick. Leverkusen is in fourth place with 13 points.
