Schick hat-trick keeps Leverkusen in European hunt
Patrik Schick starred with a dazzling hat-trick to carry Bayer Leverkusen to a dominant 4-1 victory over RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, keeping the Werkself on course to seal a fourth-place finish and UEFA Champions League qualification.
The race to qualify for Europe in the Bundesliga has been increasingly tight this season, with Leverkusen, Stuttgart, and Hoffenheim all vying for the final fourth spot, and now all on 58 points apiece.
With the pressure on, Schick delivered a decisive opening blow in the 25th minute when he coolly finished off Nathan Tella's centre, drilling into the bottom corner to beat Maarten Vandevoordt.
Tella himself went close on several occasions before finding the net on the stroke of half-time, tapping home from close range off Aleix Garcia's corner.
Schick continued to ask questions of Leipzig's defence, which was unable to deal with the physical threat, and he added his second in the 76th minute, sending a powerful, low drive into the bottom left corner.
Leipzig threatened a nervous finish in the 80th minute as Christoph Baumgartner smartly nodded home across the face of goal, but Leverkusen was never really under any pressure.
Schick sealed the result in the 89th minute, netting his third on the break as he controlled Alejandro Grimaldo's throughball before sliding his finish past Vandevoordt.
Schick has now scored nine goals in his past six Bundesliga matches, more than any other player across Europe's top 5 leagues during this run, making his a critical cog in the Leverkusen machine.
