Patrik Schick ended his three-month goal drought in the Bundesliga as Bayer Leverkusen secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Freiburg, maintaining their 10-point lead over Bayern Munich in the German title race on Sunday.
Under the helm of coach Xabi Alonso, Leverkusen displayed resilience despite squad rotation following a busy fixture schedule, securing their record-breaking 22nd Bundesliga win of the season. With 70 points to their name, just one shy of Bayern’s title-winning tally from the previous season, Leverkusen showcased their determination to clinch the title.
Leverkusen wasted no time in asserting their dominance, with Florian Wirtz breaking the deadlock within 90 seconds, showcasing his attacking prowess under Alonso’s guidance. However, Freiburg swiftly responded through Ritsu Doan before a crucial error from Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu gifted Leverkusen the lead once more, allowing Schick to capitalize on the mistake.
Schick further extended Leverkusen’s advantage with a well-placed flick in the 53rd minute, off Jeremie Frimpong’s delivery.
Despite a late scare when Lukas Hradecky’s spillage led to Freiburg pulling one back, Leverkusen managed to hold on for the win, with Manuel Gulde’s late chance narrowly missing the mark.
The victory was particularly significant for Czech forwards Schick and Adam Hlozek, who played pivotal roles despite their limited impact in the title race this season. Leverkusen’s success has been built on contributions from various positions on the field, especially since the absence of striker Victor Boniface due to injury in January.
With only five wins needed from their remaining eight league games, Leverkusen remains on course for their maiden Bundesliga title, even if Bayern were to win all their fixtures.
Meanwhile, Bayern’s recent encounter with Freiburg ended in a 2-2 draw, with concerns looming over an ankle injury to top scorer Harry Kane. Despite the setback, Bayern confirmed Kane’s inclusion in the England squad for upcoming friendlies.
In another Bundesliga fixture on Sunday, Borussia Dortmund reclaimed fourth place with a 3-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, courtesy of Emre Can’s penalty after a controversial red card decision was downgraded upon video review.
