Bayer 04 Leverkusen thrash RB Leipzig and move closer to Champions League zone. Bayer 04 Leverkusen confidently defeated RB Leipzig 4-1. Patrik Schick scored a hat-trick and became the main hero of the match. The victory allowed Leverkusen to narrow the gap to their rivals in the race for the Champions League.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen took a major step in the battle for a Champions League spot, thrashing RB Leipzig 4-1 in the headline match of Bundesliga round 32. The main hero of the encounter was Patrik Schick, who netted a hat-trick and became the top scorer of the night. Thanks to this victory, Leverkusen climbed to fourth place, narrowing the gap to Leipzig to just four points.
Key moments of the match
From the very first minutes, the hosts seized the initiative and began pressing the opposition aggressively. By the 25th minute, Patrik Schick opened the scoring after a swift attack, finishing Nathan Tella’s pass with an accurate shot. Just before halftime, Tella doubled Leverkusen’s lead by slotting home a cross from Aleix Garcia — this goal was his first of the season. Leipzig tried to respond, but in the first half couldn’t capitalize on their chances.
Second half and Schick’s hat-trick
After the break, the visitors made a double substitution to increase the pressure on Leverkusen’s goal. However, the hosts quickly regained control of the game. In the 76th minute, Maza broke through the center and set up Schick one-on-one with the goalkeeper — the Czech striker didn’t miss, sending the ball into the net with a power of 109 km/h. Leipzig managed to reduce the deficit thanks to a precise header from Christoph Baumgartner after a cross from Gruda, but that was where the intrigue ended.
Final chord and statistics
In the 89th minute, Schick scored his third goal, capitalizing on a pass from Grimaldo. Initially, the referee called offside, but after a VAR review, the goal was awarded. The final score of 4-1 not only strengthened Leverkusen's position in the table, but also brought them closer to their direct rivals for a Champions League spot. According to RUSSPAIN, Schick was the most active player of the match, taking nine shots on goal and registering his fifth brace of the season—this time even achieving a hat trick.
Context and the top-4 race
Leverkusen's victory was pivotal in the battle for a Champions League spot, especially amid fierce competition at the top of the table. Leipzig, who could have secured early qualification for Europe's main club tournament, will now have to fight until the end of the season. Squad decisions also played a significant role: Leverkusen's first-choice goalkeeper Mark Flekken returned from injury, while Leipzig started with Niklas Seiwald. Interestingly, other clubs have recently found themselves in similar situations: Girona and Mallorca also rotated their squads in crucial matches for survival.
