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Schick Makes History As Leverkusen End Freiburg's Unbeaten Run
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- Schick Makes History As Leverkusen End Freiburg's Unbeaten Run
(IMAGO / DeFodi Images)
Bayer Leverkusen continued their impressive run of form on Sunday afternoon, coming from behind to defeat Bundesliga leaders SC Freiburg 2-1 at the BayArena.
Ibrahim Maza cancelled out Derry Scherhant's early opener before Patrik Schick scored the decisive goal in the 76th minute, setting a new club record in the process.
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The victory handed Freiburg their first defeat of the season and extended Die Werkself's winning streak to five consecutive matches across all competitions.
Carles Martínez's side now sits fourth in the Bundesliga with 13 points from six matches, level with Freiburg and just one point behind Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
Maza Responds As Leverkusen Fight Back
The afternoon began with an unexpected interruption when Freiburg supporters threw tennis balls onto the pitch in protest against restrictions on fan materials at the BayArena.
Once play resumed, the visitors made the stronger start.
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In the 14th minute, Philipp Treu delivered from the right flank, allowing Derry Scherhant to finish from close range and give the league leaders an early advantage.
However, Leverkusen needed just five minutes to respond.
Schick produced a clever backheel to release Ibrahim Maza, who calmly finished past the Freiburg goalkeeper to restore parity.
The equaliser highlighted the growing understanding between the two attackers, with Maza increasingly establishing himself as an important creative presence in Martínez's team.
Despite the entertaining opening, clear opportunities became scarce as both sides struggled to break through organised defensive lines.
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The teams entered half-time level, leaving everything to play for in the second period.
Schick Breaks Leverkusen Record With Winning Goal
Leverkusen emerged with greater intensity after the break and gradually began to take control.
Facundo Medina threatened shortly after the restart, while Schick missed a promising opportunity as the hosts increased the pressure on Freiburg's defence.
Their persistence eventually paid off in the 76th minute.
Maza turned provider with an excellent piece of attacking play, creating the opening for Schick to fire home the winner.
The goal carried particular significance for the Czech international.
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Schick has now scored in each of Leverkusen's opening six Bundesliga matches this season, becoming the first player in the club's history to achieve that feat.
His remarkable consistency has been a major factor in Die Werkself's resurgence, providing Martínez with a reliable source of goals during a demanding opening period.
Freiburg pushed for an equaliser late on, with Lucas Höler narrowly missing a header in stoppage time, but Bayer held firm to secure all three points.
Leverkusen Send A Statement To The Bundesliga
Beyond the result, Sunday's victory represented another important step in Leverkusen's development under Martínez.
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The Werkself had already demonstrated their attacking potential with four goals against Mainz and another four against Lech Poznań in the Europa League.
Against Freiburg, however, they showed a different quality.
Rather than relying on an open, high-scoring contest, Die Schwarzroten remained patient against one of the Bundesliga's most organised defensive teams and found the decisive moment when it mattered.
Maza's performance was particularly encouraging. The 20-year-old contributed a goal and an assist, underlining his growing importance to the team's attacking structure.
With five consecutive victories across all competitions, Leverkusen are beginning to build genuine momentum.
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Their next challenge comes in the Europa League against OFI Crete on Thursday before returning to Bundesliga action against Hoffenheim.
For Martínez, the Freiburg victory offers further evidence that his team are developing into serious contenders near the top of the table.
From here the stage only gets bigger.
