Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 Bochum
Goals: 1-0 Schick pen. 30', 2-0 Schick 32' (assist: Frimpong), 3-0 Schick 45+1' (assist: Grimaldo), 4-0 Boniface 69' (assist: Wirtz)

Unbeaten league leaders Leverkusen kicked off against the last side to beat them in the Bundesliga amid a noisy, festive atmosphere at the BayArena. Visitors Bochum showed their strong recent form is no accident with a high-intensity start that saw them get the better of the early play. Takuma Asano got behind the Leverkusen defence, but was denied by a superb Josip Stanišić sliding tackle, and Christopher Antwi-Adjei had an effort deflected wide. An even encounter after 30 minutes was suddenly seized by one man, however, with Schick smashing a sensational first-half hat-trick on his first Bundesliga start in 14 months. The first came from the penalty spot after he was brought down by Manuel Riemann, the second was smashed in after Jeremie Frimpong centred, and the third was headed in from a corner in stoppage time.

The burst of three goals before the break gave Leverkusen a superb cushion to take into the second period. The Werkself were content to pass the ball around and patiently seek further opportunities, which duly came via Frimpong and Jonas Hofmann. Robert Andrich then headed the ball into the net only to be denied by an offside flag. Victor Boniface turned in the fourth within minutes of replacing Schick as a second-half substitute, latching on to Wirtz's neat through-ball. Fellow substitute Adam Hložek then had a chance for a fifth from a Frimpong cut-back. No further goals came despite continued pressure, but the Leverkusen fans could celebrate regardless after a supreme performance that underscored their dominance of the Bundesliga so far this season.

Highlights

Bundesliga winter break explained

Schick hat-trick as Leverkusen beat Bochum