Patrik Schick four-goal spree puts ruthless Bayer Leverkusen in seventh heaven against Greuther Fürth
Patrik Schick scored four second-half goals as Bayer Leverkusen consolidated third place with a crushing 7-1 win over rock-bottom Greuther Fürth.
Bayer Leverkusen 7-1 Greuther Fürth
Goals: 1-0 Adli 12' (assist: Diaby), 2-0 Tapsoba 17' (assist: Wirtz), 2-1 Dudziak (33'), 3-1 Hincapie 45' (assist: Schick), 4-1 Schick 49' (assist: Adli), 5-1 Schick 69' (assist: Diaby), 6-1 Schick (74'), 7-1 Schick 76' (assist: Wirtz)
Leverkusen didn't need long to leave their mark. Moussa Diaby was the provider from the right-hand side, with Amine Adli connecting mid-air with a superb first-time finish. It got worse for Fürth five minutes later as Edmond Tapsoba met Florian Wirtz's free-kick with a towering header for 2-0. Maximilian Bauer had a close-range effort chalked off for offside between times, before Jeremie Dudziak reduced the deficit with a low strike off the inside of Lukas Hradecky's left-hand post. Schick almost profitted from an errant back-pass, but Marius Funk reacted fastest to spare Sebastian Griesbeck's blushes. There was nothing he could do about Bayer's next chance, though. Schick found Piero Hincapie with a superb pass into the box, and the Ecuadorian teenager made no mistake with his finish.
Marius Funk thwarted Adli soon after the restart, but was beaten again with just 49 minutes on the clock. Wirtz found Adli, who selflessly set up the unmarked Schick for his ninth goal of the Bundesliga season. There was a period of momentary respite for Fürth, before Bayer unloaded in a blistering seven-minute spell. Diaby raced away down the left to tee up Schick for a clinical hit from inside the box. The Czech striker completed his hat-trick with an instinctive header after Karim Bellarabi's strike had come back off the crossbar, and finished Wirtz's sublime through-ball with aplomb for his fourth. He made way to a standing ovation soon after, while only the woodwork denied Bellarabi a piece of the goal-scoring pie in a gala performance by Gerardo Seoane's men.
Match stats
- Leverkusen have scored 16 of their 35 goals so far this Bundesliga season in the opening 30 minutes of matches. They are the second-highest scorers in the division, after Bayern Munich.
- Bayer scored seven goals in a Bundesliga home game for the first time.
- Wirtz produced his seventh and eighth assists of the campaign. He also has five goals.
- Schick has scored 12 goals in 11 appearances this term. It was the first time he's scored more than twice in a Bundesliga game.
- Adli scored his second Bundesliga goal in 12 outings, while Hincapie opened his Bundesliga account.
Watch: Patrik Schick thanks teammates after netting four
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Line-ups
Leverkusen: Hradecky (c) – Frimpong (Kossonou 81'), Tah, Tapsoba, Hincapie – Andrich (Demirbay 62'), Palacios (Aranguiz 62') – Diaby, Wirtz, Adli (Bellarabi 62') – Schick (Alario 81')
Unused subs: Lunev, Paulinho, Amiri, Sinkgraven
Out: Bakker (ankle), Baumgartlinger (knee), Fosu-Mensah (match fitness)
Coach: Gerardo Seoane
Fürth: Funk – Griesbeck, Bauer, Barry (Asta 77'), Willems (Meyerhöfer 60') – Christiansen (Seufert 77'), Tillman, Dudziak (Seguin 58') – Leweling (Nielsen 60'), Abiama, Hrgota (c)
Unused subs: Burchert, Sarpei, Itten, Green
Out: Hoogma (knee), Jung (knee), Kehr (knee), Ngankam (knee), Viergever (ankle)
Coach: Stefan Leitl
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