Schick nets four as Leverkusen thrash Freiburg 5-1

Bayer Leverkusen's Patrik Schick scored four times and Florian Wirtz added another to hand the Bundesliga side a commanding 5-1 home win over Freiburg on Saturday as the defending champions picked up their fifth straight league victory.

The win puts second-placed Leverkusen on 32 points, four off Bayern Munich, who thrashed RB Leipzig 5-1 on Friday.

Schick opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time with a brilliant lob after a through ball from Wirtz, whose 33rd minute penalty had been saved by Noah Atubolu after the Germany midfielder was fouled by Ritsu Doan.

Wirtz doubled the lead with a close-range finish at the near post six minutes after the break before the visitors got on the scoresheet with Vincenzo Grifo's low drive four minutes later. 

Schick restored the hosts' two-goal advantage by heading home Wirtz's assist in the 67th and nabbed a hat-trick seven minutes later after again linking up with the 21-year-old. 

The Czech international got his fourth goal with another header from a corner 13 minutes from time to complete the rout.