Here are the post-match reactions from Leverkusen stars Ibrahim Maza and Patrik Schick after Leverkusen's 2-1 win against Freiburg.

Bayer Leverkusen's 2-1 victory over Freiburg was built on the growing understanding between Ibrahim Maza and Patrik Schick. Maza scored the equaliser before setting up Schick's winner, with the striker extending his scoring streak to six consecutive Bundesliga matches at the start of the season.

The result was an important one for Leverkusen, who moved level on points with Freiburg after a competitive encounter at the BayArena. Both players were pleased with the performance, while acknowledging the quality of their opponents.

"We played some great football today, but a lot of credit to Freiburg as well. They put in a great performance," Maza said after the match.

The young attacking midfielder was particularly influential in the decisive moment. In the 76th minute, he controlled a high ball near the corner flag and held off three Freiburg players before finding Schick in space inside the penalty area.

Maza admitted that his assist was the product of improvisation rather than a carefully planned move.

"I improvised for the assist. I was a little cheeky in a tight space, and there are only so many options in that situation. Sometimes something like that works well, sometimes it doesn't work at all. Today, it was perfect," he explained.

"I was on the byline, Schick sensed where the ball was going to arrive, and then we celebrated."

Maza also highlighted the strong relationship he has developed with the experienced striker, affectionately nicknamed "Schicki".

"I get on really well with Schicki. We were able to help each other with the goals today. Things are working really well between us at the moment," he said.

For Schick, the victory brought both an important three points and an individual milestone. His goal was his sixth in six Bundesliga appearances this season, setting a new Leverkusen club record for the most consecutive league matches scored in at the beginning of a campaign.

"I've already heard that I've broken the record, which obviously makes me very happy," the Czech striker said.

Schick also stressed the importance of the result in the context of the Bundesliga table, describing Freiburg as one of the strongest teams in the division.

"Our result is really important for the table. Freiburg are one of the best teams in the league, so it was a tough game. I'm happy with the result," he added.

The striker believes Leverkusen's improvement has been evident in recent performances, particularly in their ability to avoid the mistakes that cost them earlier in the season.

"You can see our development. We're not making the same simple mistakes we were making at the start of the season. A game like this could easily have ended in a draw, so we're happy today," Schick concluded.

With Maza's creativity and Schick's consistent finishing proving decisive, Leverkusen have another reason to be encouraged by the partnership developing between the two attackers.