Patrik Schick breaks Dimitar Berbatov’s Bayer Leverkusen record, declares club ‘stable again’

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Patrik Schick’s goal in Saturday evening’s Bundesliga victory over RB Leipzig enabled the Czech international to reach a club milestone. Schick’s 80th Bundesliga goal in the colors of Germany’s red company team made him Leverkusen’s highest scoring foreign professional in the German top flight. Schick officially passed famous Bulgarian captain Dimitar Berbatov, who scored Bundesliga 79 goals between 2000 and 2006.

Schick broke the record in style, netting a crucial 1-2 just before the half in a crucial away fixture against his former Bundesliga club RB Leipzig shortly before the end of the first half. The fact that Leverkusen were able to take a lead against a team that began the day ahead of them in the Bundesliga table in the locker room proved decisive. Leverkusen won 1-3 and pulled ahead of Leipzig to claim third place in the Bundesliga table on goal differential. 

Schick’s goal in itself was very impressive. The 29-year-old dusted RB marker Kosta Nedeljkovic with a feint left-footed shot. Schick shifted the ball inward onto his right foot and fired the ball into the top corner from close range. It was definitely a goal worth seeing and certainly one worthy of breaking a record.

Patrik Schick believes Leverkusen are back on track

The massive summer personnel exodus – not to mention the club’s decision to sack new head coach Erik ten Hag just two rounds into the new season – led to plenty of tumult and turmoil. Schick sought to frame the “Era of Disarray” as over whilst speaking in the mixed zone last night. 

“We’re now in third [place] and also in a good position in the Champions League after a hectic summer,” Schick said. “I think the most important thing is that we’re now stable and well positioned in all three competitions [league, cup, and Champions League]. I think it’s only going to head upwards from here.“

GGFN | Peter Weis