Bayer Leverkusen put on a footballing masterclass on Saturday, crushing SC Freiburg 5-1 at home, with Patrik Schick taking the spotlight as he netted four goals, supported by Florian Wirtz’s impressive one goal and three assists.
The match started with Leverkusen showing clear intent to dominate. Schick opened the scoring just before halftime, lobbing the ball over Freiburg's goalkeeper Noah Atubolu after receiving a brilliant through ball from Wirtz. This initial breakthrough set the tone for the rest of the game.
Despite Wirtz having his penalty saved earlier on, he quickly redeemed himself. Following Schick's opener, he struck just after the break, doubling the lead with a precise shot from the left side of the box.
Freiburg managed to respond briefly through Vincenzo Grifo, who scored with a low drive to reduce the deficit to 2-1. Yet, as soon as their hopes were raised, Schick struck again. First, he headed home another assist from Wirtz, extending Leverkusen’s lead, and then added his fourth goal, finishing from close range after yet another cross from the young midfielder.
Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso expressed pride over the team's performance. “When a striker scores four goals, you can’t complain,” Alonso told reporters. “He does a lot of work off the ball, and when he does it well, he scores the goals.” His praise underscored Schick's significance, with the striker’s role continually growing within the team.
Wirtz's performance drew accolades not just from his coach but also from Freiburg's players. Freiburg coach Julian Schuster marveled at Wirtz's talent. “If I was 10 years old, I'd buy a shirt straight away. That's the kind of quality you like to see when you’re the coach of Leverkusen,” said Schuster. His sentiments were echoed by Freiburg’s captain Christian Günter, who stated, “It’s crazy... what he is bringing to the pitch.” Günter acknowledged facing Wirtz was frustrating as he had always recognized his potential.
This victory leaves Leverkusen firmly positioned second in the Bundesliga table with 32 points, just four behind leaders Bayern Munich, who also secured their own emphatic win against RB Leipzig earlier. Leverkusen's upward momentum during the first half of the season is marked by this latest victory and solidifies their aspirations for the title as they move forward.
Alonso recognized the challenge posed by Freiburg during the game, stating, “The result may have been spectacular, but it was not as easy as it seemed.” Despite the scoreline, he emphasized the need for tactical preparation against competent opponents. The ambitious manager is focused on maintaining this momentum as they prepare for the second half of the season.
Looking to the future, Leverkusen is set to face Borussia Dortmund on January 10, with continuing ambitions of challenging for Bundesliga glory as they secure their place among the elite clubs.
Fans and analysts will watch closely how Alonso's squad translates this impressive performance as they head toward the Winterpause, with Leverkusen poised to take on the challenge of higher expectations next year.
