Leverkusen celebrates victory in a thrilling Rhine derby against Cologne

Dream goal included

Leverkusen wins thrilling derby against Cologne

In an exciting derby, Leverkusen and Cologne created several scoring chances. In the end, the better second half of the “Werkself” will decide.

Bayer Leverkusen won the Rhine derby against 1. FC Köln and celebrated an important victory in the fight for the Champions League places. In a hard-fought game, the score was 2-0 (0-0) for the “Werkself”. Especially in the first half, the Cologne team kept the game balanced and, like the hosts, had a few chances to score. But neither team has been able to score yet.

After the break, Leverkusen increasingly took control and deservedly took the lead in the 66th minute with a dream goal from Martin Terrier’s heel. Just six minutes later, captain Robert Andrich put the lid on things with a header from a corner. Cologne didn’t give up, but didn’t come back.

Thanks to the win, Leverkusen are still in fourth place in the table with 26 points, but only the better goal difference separates them from TSG Hoffenheim in fifth place. Cologne remains ninth for the time being with 16 points, but can still lose two places on Sunday and, after five games without a win, must also look downwards.

In order to have a chance in the neighborhood duel (15 kilometers as the crow flies between the stadiums), FC coach Lukas Kwasniok said his team would have to play “a perfect game” and that mere emotionality would not be enough. But the Cologne team, who according to Fanhilfe had to forego their active fan scene after “too intensive controls” at the entrance, were initially busy with defensive work. Leverkusen’s Edmond Tapsoba (6th) had the first chance of the game after a free kick cross from Aleix García.

And the Werkself stayed on the trigger: Christian Kofane, who started for the ailing striker Patrik Schick, failed after a nice back-heel pass from Malik Tillman to FC keeper Marvin Schwäbe (9th). The newcomer from the cathedral city retreated far away and Bayer looked for the gaps.

The Cologne team concentrated on the counterattack from the start – and suddenly became dangerous: shooting star Saïd El Mala broke through on the left side, and Luca Waldschmidt in the middle was unable to convert the following cross (21′). A little later, Waldschmidt failed with a powerful left-foot shot past Mark Flekken (28th). The game now became more open, Bayer captain Andrich headed next to the goal from the best position after a corner (34th). The game petered out until the break; Bayer visibly lacked creativity without driver Alejandro Grimaldo.