Bayer Leverkusen Maintain Champions League Push with Dominant Win Against RB Leipzig

Earlier results suggested that a win would lock in Leipzig's position in the top four, and motivated by this, they began aggressively. Romulo Cardoso spearheaded the attack, missing just wide of the post in the first five minutes and then having a shot blocked on the line by Aleix Garcia.

These missed chances hurt Leipzig, as they suffered a surprise counter when Nathan Tella collected a swift goal kick in the box and calmly passed to ex-Leipzig player Patrik Schick, who slotted home to give Leverkusen the lead.

Leverkusen gained momentum after the goal and nearly made it two soon after, with Tella breaking down the left and shooting across the face of goal. Maarten Vandevoordt saved it into Schick's path, but El Chadaille Bitshiabu cleared the follow-up off the line.

Leipzig posed little danger before the interval, but Xaver Schlager nearly equalised with a stunning 30-yard low shot that skimmed past the post, catching Leverkusen keeper Mark Flekken out of position.

The score at half-time was two nil, as right before the break, Tella sneaked in at the far post to finish Garcia's inviting cross.

Not content with his assist, Tella kept pressuring Leipzig and nearly set up a third, delivering a precise ball into the area that Schick hit against Vandevoordt's legs.

Leipzig responded by substituting attackers to chase the game, but it had little effect. Alejandro Grimaldo nearly sealed it ten minutes from the end with a free-kick that clipped the crossbar.

Leverkusen kept pushing and put the match out of reach late on, as Schick broke clear and coolly added a third.

Leipzig grabbed a late reply through Christoph Baumgartner, but Leverkusen hit back immediately, with Schick breaking away again to complete his hat-trick and restore the three-goal margin.

Capitalising on Tiago Tomas's late leveller at Hoffenheim earlier, the home side have now taken five of the last seven meetings and control their own top-four fate.

Leipzig are still on course for a top-four finish and require just one victory in their final two matches to confirm a UEFA Champions League place.