Schick hits hat-trick as Leverkusen crush Bochum, Kane scores in Bayern win
Harry Kane's 21st league goal was the difference in Bayern's victory but Leverkusen continued their stellar record to claim the three points and keep the German champions at bay. With January's Africa Cup of Nations in mind, Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso rested several first teamers, including Nigeria striker Victor Boniface.
Schick, handed his first league start in 14 months, repayed his manager's faith, winning and converting a penalty after half an hour. The Czech forward doubled up two minutes later, slamming in a Jeremie Frimpong cross to make it 2-0. He scored again, this time heading in a corner, just before the break.
Alonso took Schick off to a standing ovation midway through the second-half for Boniface, who scored two minutes after coming on. "We're happy about that, but it's even more important that we keep doing it into the new year" Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes told Sky.
An undermanned Bayern were made to work to keep pace with Leverkusen, Kane and Jamal Musiala scoring first-half goals to victory at Wolfsburg. "We were in the red zone" coach Thomas Tuchel said. "Compliments to the players. That was a real tour de force in the second-half."
Playing a second straight time without the flu-hit midfield duo of Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich, Bayern rushed out to a 2-0 lead but were pegged back before half-time by a Max Arnold stunner. The German champions dug in throughout the second-half against a dogged Wolfsburg side coached by former Bayern mentor Niko Kovac, but held on to claim a valuable three points in what is emerging as a true two-horse title race.
"They're a great team, they've got a great coach" Kane said of Leverkusen after the game, but told reporters "we can't control their game, all
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