Patrik Schick struck a superb hat-trick as Bayer Leverkusen crushed RB Leipzig 4-1 to move into the Bundesliga top four and keep their Champions League hopes firmly in their own hands.
Bayer Leverkusen delivered a statement victory in the Bundesliga’s Champions League race, overpowering RB Leipzig 4-1 at the BayArena to leap into the top four with just two matches left to play.
A HUGE, HUGE RESULT! COME ON!!!!!
90′ | 4-1 | #B04RBL pic.twitter.com/hPDy0EWlYZ
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) May 2, 2026
In a game loaded with consequence, it was Patrik Schick who stole the headlines with a ruthless hat-trick, while Nathan Tella produced a dazzling all-action display to dismantle Leipzig’s previously red-hot momentum.
Knowing that a win would all but secure Champions League football, Leipzig started with urgency and nearly struck inside the opening minutes. Romulo Cardoso twice came close, first dragging an effort narrowly wide before seeing another goal-bound attempt dramatically cleared off the line by Aleix Garcia. It was a bright opening from the visitors, but those missed chances would soon come back to haunt them in brutal fashion.
Leverkusen absorbed the early pressure and then landed the first decisive blow with a devastatingly quick transition. A rapidly taken goal kick caught Leipzig disorganised, releasing Tella into space down the flank. The winger kept his composure, drove into the area and squared intelligently for Schick, who punished his former club by sweeping home the opener and turning the entire momentum of the match on its head.
That goal transformed the hosts. Suddenly Xabi Alonso’s side began to move with confidence and fluency, slicing through Leipzig repeatedly. Tella was at the center of almost everything dangerous and should have had another assist moments later when his low cross found Schick again, only for El Chadaille Bitshiabu to produce a desperate goal-line clearance. Leipzig were wobbling badly, and Leverkusen sensed blood.
The second goal arrived just before half-time.
After Leipzig had briefly threatened through a long-range Xaver Schlager drive that flashed inches wide, Leverkusen surged forward once more. Aleix Garcia whipped a teasing delivery toward the back post where Tella ghosted in completely unmarked, calmly sweeping the ball beyond Maarten Vandevoordt to send the BayArena into celebration and the hosts into the dressing room with a commanding 2-0 advantage.
Even with a goal and an assist to his name, Tella remained relentless after the restart. His direct running continued to torment Leipzig’s back line, and another inch-perfect cross nearly created Leverkusen’s third when Schick was denied by Vandevoordt at point-blank range. Leipzig attempted to respond with attacking substitutions, but there was little cohesion or conviction in their push, while Alejandro Grimaldo nearly ended the contest with a curling free-kick that skimmed the roof of the net.
The killer moments eventually arrived in the final ten minutes. Schick raced through on goal to calmly slot Leverkusen’s third and seemingly end Leipzig’s resistance. Christoph Baumgartner briefly pulled one back for the visitors to offer a flicker of respectability, but any thoughts of a late twist were extinguished almost instantly when Schick again burst clear and finished clinically to complete a superb hat-trick and cap a devastating personal performance.
PATRIK HAT TRICK! 😮💨🇨🇿
90′ | 4-1 | #B04RBL pic.twitter.com/8mZI38Ez6s
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) May 2, 2026
This was a result with massive implications. Leverkusen, taking full advantage of dropped points elsewhere, now have their Champions League destiny firmly in their own hands after moving into the top four and recording a fifth win in their last seven meetings with Leipzig.
