Chicharito seals thrilling Leverkusen win over Schalke

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Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez scored his 17th goal of the season to cap a thrilling come-from-behind 3-2 victory for Bayer 04 Leverkusen away to FC Schalke 04 on Saturday evening.

FC Schalke 04 2-3 Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Goals: 1-0 Choupo-Moting (14'), 2-0 Sane (29'), 2-1 Brandt (54'), 2-2 Bellarabi (56'), 2-3 Chicharito (60')

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Schalke's tilt at European qualification had faltered in the weeks preceding this game but they began determined to make amends here, pushing forward relentlessly. They could have had an early lead when they were awarded a penalty after Leroy Sane was tripped, but Bernd Leno made a superb save to keep out Klaas-Jan Huntelaar's spot-kick. The hosts soon got the goal their pressure deserved, however, when Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting powered forward from midfield and saw his shot deflected into the net.

The Royal Blues added a second before the break when Max Meyer teed up Sane to clinically finish from ten yards out. The match remained an open, free-flowing affair in the second half but this time it was Leverkusen who dominated and they turned the encounter on its head by scoring three times in six minutes. Julian Brandt continued his remarkable form with a well-taken finish, before Karim Bellarabi netted an audacious first-time volley from a tight angle. Chicharito completed the comeback moments later, drilling in from Brandt's pass to cement Leverkusen's place in third.

- © gettyimages / Alex Grimm/Bongarts
- © gettyimages / Alex Grimm