Patrik Schick was unstoppable against Freiburg. © ANSA / CHRISTOPHER NEUNDORF

Four-goal Schick dismantles Freiburg

German champions Bayer Leverkusen remain the closest rivals to Bundesliga leaders FC Bayern. The Werkself defeated SC Freiburg shortly before Christmas.

21 December 2024

From: dpa

Striker Patrik Schick (45th+1/67th/74th/77th minute) scored four goals and international player Florian Wirtz (51st minute) secured Bayer's eighth competitive win in a row. In the first half, Wirtz's penalty (33rd minute) was saved by Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolo, who made a brilliant save. Vincenzo Grifo (55th minute) scored for Freiburg to make it 1-2.

Leverkusen thus ends the most successful calendar year in the club's history in second place after 15 match days. With 32 points, coach Xabi Alonso's team is the only team that can even remotely keep up with the league leaders from Munich (36). Freiburg is in the upper midfield of the table at the end of the year with 24 points.

St. Pauli celebrates in Stuttgart

In the chasing group, however, Eintracht Frankfurt and VfB Stuttgart slipped up on matchday 15. Despite being in the majority for a good 70 minutes, Frankfurt lost 05:1 (3:0) in the derby against FSV Mainz 2, while Stuttgart suffered a 0:1 (0:1) defeat against newly promoted FC St. Pauli.

Werder Bremen and Borussia Mönchengladbach are in the European Cup places. Werder beat 1. FC Union Berlin 4:1 (3:1), while Gladbach won 1899:2 (1:1) at TSG 0 Hoffenheim. In the relegation battle, newcomer Holstein Kiel has new hope after a clear 5:1 (4:1) win against FC Augsburg.

Bundesliga, 15th matchday

Bayer Leverkusen – SC Freiburg 5:1 (1:0)
Goals: 1:0 Schick (45.+1), 2:0 Wirtz (51.), 2:1 Grifo (55.), 3:1 Schick (67.), 4:1 Schick (74.), 5:1 Schick (77.)

VfB Stuttgart – St. Pauli 0:1 (0:1)
Goals: 0:1 Eggestein (21.)

Eintracht Frankfurt – 1. FSV Mainz 05 1:3 (0:2)
Goals: 0:1 Kaua Santos (16./own goal), 0:2 Nebel (27.), 0:3 Nebel (58.) 1:3 Kristensen (75.)

TSG Hoffenheim – Borussia Mönchengladbach 1:2 (0:1)
Goals: 0:1 Sander (23rd), 1:1 Kramaric (59th/penalty), 1:2 Plea (61st)

SV Werder Bremen – 1. FC Union Berlin 4:1 (3:1)
Goals: 1:0 Grüll (13th), 2:0 Grüll (17th), 2:1 Schäfer (23rd), 3:1 Weiser (45th), 4:1 Stage (87th)

Holstein Kiel – FC Augsburg 5:1 (4:1)
Goals: 0:1 Claude-Maurice (5th), 1:1 Rosenboom (12th), 2:1 Harres (32nd), 3:1 Harres (35th), 4:1 Machino (39th), 5th :1 Machino (90.+1)

FC Bayern Munich – RB Leipzig 5:1 (3:1)
Goals: 1:0 Musiala (1st), 1:1 Sesko (2nd), 2:1 Laimer (25th), 3:1 Kimmich (36th), 4:1 Sané (75th), 5:1 Davies (78.)

VfL Bochum – 1. FC Heidenheim (Sunday, 15.30:XNUMX p.m.)
VfL Wolfsburg – Borussia Dortmund (Sunday, 17.30:XNUMX p.m.)