Bayer Leverkusen delivered a commanding performance on Saturday, crushing RB Leipzig 4-1 to keep their Champions League dreams firmly alive. The star of the show was Patrik Schick, who bagged his first Bundesliga hat-trick since 2024, extending his impressive scoring streak against his former club to three consecutive games.

"I'm very happy that I was able to help my team in the Champions League race today," said the 30-year-old striker in a post-match interview with Sky. But Schick wasn't the only one stealing the spotlight—teammate Ibrahim Maza played a pivotal role, setting up the Czech forward's first two goals with pinpoint precision.

"Schick had an incredible game," Maza said, but it was the Algerian international's own performance that had everyone talking. Both head coach Kasper Hjulmand and Schick heaped praise on the 20-year-old, who joined from Hertha BSC last summer for a reported €12 million.

"Ibo (Maza) has incredible potential. He showed again today that he's a complete player. He plays great passes and is strong with his feet. He really can do anything," Schick said, though he stopped short of comparing Maza to Leverkusen's star playmaker, Florian Wirtz.

Hjulmand was equally effusive: "I have already spoken a lot about Maza. He's a top, top player. He is also a top person, who learns very quickly. He says 'Thank you!' and works super hard every day. He learns super fast. He's just a great player who has a great future ahead of him."

The win puts Leverkusen in a tight race for Champions League qualification. Next week, they face a crucial away match against Stuttgart, with both teams—along with Hoffenheim—locked on 58 points. Depending on how FC Bayern and SC Freiburg fare in European competitions, one or two of these sides will secure a spot in next season's elite tournament.