Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen needed a second-half goal by in-form forward Patrik Schick to edge mid-table hosts Union Berlin 2-1 on Saturday. 

Schick, who got a hat-trick in a 5-2 win over Heidenheim last week and then netted in the 5-0 Champions League win over RB Salzburg, pushed the ball over the line with his chest in the 71st minute to secure Leverkusen's second win in their last five league matches.

Xabi Alonso's team went in front after two minutes with Jeremie Frimpong breaking clear and slotting in from a perfectly timed pass by Alejandro Grimaldo.

But there was little else in terms of attacking threat from the visitors and Union, with the league's second-best defence behind Bayern, stood their ground and gradually grew bolder.

They levelled with their first chance through Jeong Woo-yeong in the 29th minute after a fine run by Benedict Hollerbach.

Leverkusen brought on Florian Wirtz just before the hour mark and the move paid off with the Germany international whipping a cross into the box for Schick to snatch the winner.

Leverkusen are on 23 points in third. The defeat left Union in 11th place on 16 points.

Data Debrief: In the Schick of it

Schick, who has now scored in his last three Bundesliga games, scored for the 48th time in his 100th Bundesliga appearance for Leverkusen - equalling Ulf Kirsten's club record.

Leverkusen have now scored in each of their last three games in the Bundesliga, scoring eight goals in that run.

In total, they have scored in 11 of their 12 games, no team has done so more often in the Bundesliga this season.

They managed to accumulate only 0.9 xG, though that was more than Union's 0.6 in a game that was devoid of too many clear openings.