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Bayer Leverkusen head to the winter break with a big win despite the absence of Nigeria's Victor Boniface.
Bayer Leverkusen concluded the first half of the Bundesliga season in style with a commanding victory over SC Freiburg, winning 5-1 despite the absence of Nigerian striker Victor Boniface.
Although Boniface returned to training ahead of schedule, he was not included in the matchday squad, a decision that did not hinder Leverkusen's performance.
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Leverkusen dominated possession throughout the match, while Freiburg opted for a counter-attacking strategy.
The home side had an early opportunity to take the lead when Florian Wirtz was awarded a penalty after being fouled by Ritsu Doan, but Wirtz's attempt was saved by Freiburg Super Eagles-eligible goalkeeper Noah Atubolu.
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The breakthrough came just before halftime when Patrik Schick scored a brilliant goal, calmly lifting the ball over Atubolu after being set up by Wirtz. This goal sent Leverkusen into the break with a deserved 1-0 lead, having created numerous chances and controlled the game.
After the interval, Wirtz doubled Leverkusen's advantage with a powerful shot into the roof of the net following an intricate passing move.
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Freiburg responded quickly, with Vincenzo Grifo halving the deficit just four minutes later with a clever finish from the edge of the box.
However, Schick soon restored Leverkusen's two-goal cushion, heading in Wirtz's cross. The Czech striker then completed his hat-trick shortly after, finishing off a swift counterattack initiated by Jeremie Frimpong. Schick added another goal from a corner kick, bringing his tally for the match to four.
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With this emphatic win, Leverkusen heads into the winter break firmly positioned in second place in the Bundesliga standings, while Freiburg remains in fifth.
Despite Boniface's absence, Leverkusen's attacking prowess was on full display, particularly through Wirtz and Schick, who were instrumental in securing all three points.
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