Analysis: Electric Schade among the most prolific Germans in Premier League history | OneFootball

Brentford finished 2025 in immaculate fashion with a 4-1 win over Bournemouth at Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday, Kevin Schade signing the year off in style with a perfect hat-trick.

The Bees’ no.7 rolled home a composed left-footed finish after seven minutes to break the deadlock, and an own goal from Cherries goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic extended the hosts’ advantage before the break.

Schade flicked a right-footed effort into the roof of the net five minutes into the second period to make it 3-0, and his late header sealed an excellent victory after Antoine Semenyo’s scrambled effort had reduced the visitors’ deficit.

After Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta and Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze, Schade became only the third player to bag a top-flight treble this season - and the first to score a ‘perfect’ hat-trick.

The 24-year-old was electric throughout and deservedly bagged his second treble in Brentford colours, having scored three of his side’s goals in a 4-1 win over Leicester City last term.

In the process, Schade (19 goals) knocked Michael Ballack (17) out of the top 10 most prolific Germans in Premier League history.

One of only four Germans ever to score a hat-trick in the English top tier - along with André Schürrle, Fredi Bobic and Jürgen Klinsmann - Schade also became the first of his countrymen to notch multiple Premier League trebles.

Three fierce efforts, all on target, in the Bees’ 2-0 win at Wolves before Christmas hinted that Schade was peaking, and he fired in more shots (6) than any player on the pitch against Bournemouth, with all but one of those hitting the target.

Schade’s late header capped another formidable display in the air from the former Freiburg forward, who posted an unrivalled six aerial duels won.

His 96th-minute strike also means Brentford have now scored a dozen goals after the 75th minute this season - more than any other side in the division.

Under head coach Keith Andrews, Brentford have now chalked up 26 points during the 2025/26 campaign - more than the west Londoners have ever posted at this stage of a Premier League season.

20 (77 per cent) of those precious league points have been racked up at home. As we enter 2026, only Manchester City (25) and Arsenal (22) have outscored the Bees (20 goals) on their own patch, and Andrews will be delighted with his side’s potency in attack.

Andoni Iraola’s visitors lead the Premier League for goals scored on the counter attack this season (seven), but Brentford’s third goal of the afternoon - Schade’s second - typified the Bees’ own threat in transition and gave Bournemouth a taste of their own medicine.

When captain Nathan Collins’ defensive header fell to the feet of Igor Thiago, the Bees’ top scorer was standing on the edge of his own penalty area.

The Brazilian’s short pass released Schade and, 11 seconds later, the German had rifled an instinctive finish high into the net after the ball was worked to Yehor Yarmoliuk for a slide-rule cross.

It was fast, fluid football and a clear example of how Brentford have evolved this season.

A final word must go to Kristoffer Ajer for a superb defensive contribution.

Drafted into the starting XI to replace the injured Sepp van den Berg at centre-back, the Norwegian finished the contest with a colossal 19 clearances - a figure surpassed by only Newcastle United’s Malick Thiaw (21) in a single Premier League game this season.