Patrik Schick delivered a sensational hat trick as Bayer Leverkusen overcame a shaky start to defeat Heidenheim 5-2 in a thrilling Bundesliga clash on Saturday.
The victory was even more impressive given Leverkusen’s mounting injury woes, which include key players Jonas Hofmann, Victor Boniface, Amine Adli, and Nordi Mukiele.
The day started on a somber note for Leverkusen, with the club announcing that Hofmann would miss the remainder of 2024 due to a right thigh injury sustained in training.
As if the challenge wasn’t already steep, Heidenheim capitalized on the situation to shock the defending Bundesliga champions early in the game.
In the 10th minute, Marvin Pieringer dispossessed Piero Hincapié before finding Niklas Dorsch, who fired Heidenheim ahead with a clinical finish.
Eleven minutes later, Mathias Honsak doubled their lead, weaving through three Leverkusen defenders and slotting the ball inside the far post to leave the home fans stunned.
Leverkusen, however, regrouped quickly. Exequiel Palacios sparked the comeback in the 30th minute, driving a low shot past the Heidenheim goalkeeper.
Just two minutes later, Schick leveled the game with a perfectly executed chip that showcased his composure under pressure.
In the second half, Florian Wirtz turned provider, delivering a pinpoint cross for Schick, who headed home his second goal in the 52nd minute.
Leverkusen then sealed the win in style, with substitute Arthur delivering a precise cross for Schick to complete his hat trick in the 71st minute.
The cherry on top came when Granit Xhaka found the net to make it 5-2. Xhaka celebrated by sucking his thumb and making a baby gesture, a nod to his growing family.
Elsewhere in Germany, Borussia Dortmund returned to winning ways with a 4-0 demolition of Freiburg, bringing relief to under-fire coach Nuri Şahin following four league losses earlier in the season.
The visitors, reduced to nine players by the final whistle, could not cope with Dortmund’s intensity.
Dortmund was missing their star forward Serhou Guirassy due to illness, but they didn’t miss a beat.
However, tension marked the buildup to the match as Freiburg fans displayed banners criticizing Dortmund’s controversial sponsor, Rheinmetall, an arms manufacturer.
One banner read, “No war on people, war on the federations!”
The sponsorship deal is expected to be a heated topic of discussion at Dortmund’s AGM on Sunday.
Christian Ilzer Makes a Winning Start at Hoffenheim
Christian Ilzer enjoyed a dramatic debut as Hoffenheim coach, with his team battling from behind three times to secure a 4-3 victory over Leipzig.
Jacob Bruun Larsen scored the decisive goal late in the game, giving Ilzer an unforgettable start.
Stuttgart and Wolfsburg Secure Wins
Elsewhere, Stuttgart continued their strong form with a comfortable 2-0 win over Bochum, while Wolfsburg edged past Union Berlin 1-0 to collect three valuable points.
