Leverkusen Edge Freiburg 2-1 as Schick Makes Bundesliga History

Like their chaotic 4-3 victory over Mainz last weekend, Bayer Leverkusen found themselves trailing early on Sunday. The difference at the BayArena was the methodical, suffocating control Carles Martínez's squad used to dismantle SC Freiburg 2-1.[2][5]

The victory vaults Leverkusen into fourth place, pulling them level on 13 points with a Freiburg side that arrived as the Bundesliga's form team. After dropping their season opener to Elversberg, the reigning champions have found their rhythm, winning four of their last five domestic fixtures.[3][5]

Freiburg struck first in the 14th minute, executing a flawless counter-attack under the watchful eyes of Germany national team coach Jurgen Klopp. Right-back Philipp Treu released Derry Scherhant with a clever flick, and the Germany international drove the ball home to stun the home crowd.[2][3]

Klopp had called up four Freiburg players to the national squad for the first time earlier in October 2026, and their confidence was evident in the opening exchanges. Striker Igor Matanovic consistently drew Leverkusen's central defenders out of position, creating the exact pockets of space Scherhant exploited.[2][3]

The visitors' lead lasted exactly five minutes before Leverkusen's attacking duo took over the match. Patrik Schick played a sharp one-two combination with former Aston Villa winger Moussa Diaby, sliding a comfortable pass into the path of Ibrahim Maza, who slotted it into the bottom corner.[2][3]

That equalizer settled the tempo, with both sides adopting a more cautious approach heading into the halftime break. Leverkusen emerged from the tunnel with clear attacking intent, dominating the ball and forcing Julian Schuster's Freiburg into a deep, resilient defensive block.[2][5]

The underlying metrics highlighted Leverkusen's second-half dominance, as they finished the match with 1.63 expected goals compared to Freiburg's 1.06. The hosts also registered five shots on target to the visitors' two, consistently testing Freiburg's defensive structure and goalkeeper Mio Backhaus.[1][4]

Schick blasted a clear opportunity over the crossbar on the hour mark, but he did not have to wait long for redemption. The decisive breakthrough arrived 14 minutes from time, courtesy of a spectacular solo effort from Maza, who earned an 8.8 match rating from Sofascore.[1][3]

The highly rated midfielder controlled a high ball near the corner flag, held off three defenders, and dribbled into the penalty area before returning the first-half favor to Schick. Maza delivered an inch-perfect pass that bypassed the remaining Freiburg coverage.[2][3]

Schick guided a controlled strike past Backhaus, securing the 2-1 victory and etching his name into the club's history books. The finish made the Czech forward the first Leverkusen player ever to score in each of the first six matches of a Bundesliga season.[2][3]

While neither manager offered immediate post-match comments to the broadcast, the tactical shift on the pitch spoke for itself. Leverkusen successfully neutralized Freiburg's transition game in the final stages, introducing Nathan Tella and Jonas Hofmann off the bench to kill the game.[4]

For Freiburg, the defeat snaps a nine-match unbeaten run across all competitions, though their early-season form remains a massive positive. The club still sits firmly in the top-four race, with their young core proving they can compete in the league's most hostile environments.[3][5]

Leverkusen now turn their attention to maintaining this momentum as they navigate a congested autumn schedule. With Maza and Schick operating at a historic pace, Martínez's squad looks fully equipped to challenge Bayern Munich, who sit top of the table and visit Freiburg next weekend.[3]