Schick winner sends Leverkusen fourth and ends Freiburg’s unbeaten run

Bayer Leverkusen beat SC Freiburg 2-1 at BayArena in Leverkusen on Sunday, 18 October, after Patrik Schick scored a 76th-minute winner. The comeback moved Leverkusen into fourth place in the Bundesliga and ended Freiburg’s unbeaten start to the season.

Derry Scherhant put Freiburg ahead in the 14th minute. Ibrahim Maza equalised five minutes later, and the two Leverkusen scorers combined again for the decisive goal after the break.

How Maza and Schick turned the match around

Reuters reported that neither team had a major chance after halftime until Maza escaped several defenders near the corner line and cut the ball back for Schick to tap in. AFP also described Maza’s run past Freiburg defenders before he returned the favour to Schick. The goal completed a reversal in which each player had scored from the other’s pass.

Schick became the first Leverkusen player to score in each of the opening six matches of a Bundesliga season, Reuters and AFP reported. His latest goal settled a match between two sides that finished the day level on points.

What the result changed in the Bundesliga table

Leverkusen reached 13 points, level with Freiburg but behind it on goal difference. AFP reported that Leverkusen had collected 13 of a possible 15 points since losing its opening match to promoted Elversberg. Freiburg’s defeat was its first of the season in all competitions, according to Reuters.

Bayern Munich led the Bundesliga on 14 points after beating RB Leipzig 6-1 on Saturday, Reuters reported. Borussia Dortmund also had 14 points. The result therefore put Leverkusen into the top four, one point behind both Bayern and Dortmund, while Freiburg stayed ahead of Leverkusen on goal difference.

Freiburg face Bayern next weekend, according to both reports. That fixture follows the end of Freiburg’s unbeaten run and gives the league leaders a visit to a side still level on points with fourth-placed Leverkusen.