LEVERKUSEN: Ibrahim Maza and Patrik Schick combined to score two goals as Bayer Leverkusen came from behind to beat in-form Freiburg 2-1 in the German Bundesliga on Sunday.

After a shock defeat to promoted Elversberg in the season opener, Leverkusen have now picked up 13 of a possible 18 points and sit fourth, level with third-placed Freiburg on points but behind on goal difference.

Replaced by Bayern Munich atop the Bundesliga table after Vincent Kompany’s men thumped RB Leipzig on Saturday, Freiburg host the Bavarian giants next weekend.

Schick’s goal 14 minutes from time made him the first Leverkusen player to score in each of the first six matches in a Bundesliga season.

The Bundesliga’s form team, Freiburg, took the pitch in Leverkusen under the watchful eyes of Germany coach Jurgen Klopp.

In October, Klopp called four Freiburg players up to the Germany squad for the first time and two of those combined for the opener with 14 minutes gone.

Right-back Philipp Treu laid on a counter-attacking opener for Derry Scherhant with a clever flick.

Five minutes later, Schick played a smart one-two with former Aston Villa winger Moussa Diaby before flicking to Maza who slammed home.

Schick blasted over the bar on the hour but did not need to wait long for his next opportunity.

With 15 minutes remaining, Maza dribbled in from the right and evaded several Freiburg defenders before playing an inch-perfect pass for Schick to guide a controlled strike home.

Rock bottom Borussia Moenchengladbach are still searching for a first point of the season after losing 2-1 at home against fellow strugglers Hoffenheim.

Hoffenheim’s Bambase Conte opened the scoring with his second goal in two games since a surprise call-up to Klopp’s Germany squad in October.

Wael Mohya pulled one back for the hosts just after the break but Alexander Prass put Hoffenheim back in front shortly afterwards as the visitors, who host Lyon in the Europa League on Thursday, won just their second game of the season.

Late on Saturday, Bayern Munich obliterated RB Leipzig 6-1 with a scintillating performance, to live up to coach Vincent Kompany’s prediction before the game that his team was close to hitting top form.

Bayern opened their account with Diaz in the 12th minute before the Colombian set up Aleksandar Pavlovic for their second 14 minutes later. Michael Olise, who had terrorised the Leipzig defence in the first half, capped his outstanding performance with a goal in the 34th.

Diaz bagged his hat-trick with goals either side of Harry Kane’s tap-in on the England captain’s 100th Bundesliga appearance. Leipzig scored a late consolation goal in stoppage time.

The result lifted the champions into top spot on 14 points, ahead of Borussia Dortmund on goal difference, after the Ruhr valley club slipped up with a goalless draw at Union Berlin.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2026