Clear conditions in the Rhineland: Bayer Leverkusen won the neighborhood duel in the Bundesliga against 1. FC Köln 2-0 (0-0) thanks to a dream goal from Martin Terrier (66th minute), the final score was scored by Robert Andrich (72nd). The derby was also marked by a fan boycott.
Because there is actually a guaranteed atmosphere between Leverkusen and Cologne because of their rivalry. But when a club’s fans are wronged, enemies become fellow sufferers – and this mood characterized the game. 500 to 600 Cologne fans from the active fan scene had returned home before the game; there were reports of naked checks upon entry, which the club was initially unable to confirm.
Leverkusen’s fans were satisfied with Cologne’s statements to show their solidarity. First the host’s active scene rolled up the banners and flags, then hundreds of supporters from the home block also left the stands. And that was very noticeable in terms of volume; it has rarely if ever been as quiet as this Bayer-Effzeh duel.
El Mala’s brilliant template is not refined
However, things got a little louder in the 9th minute when Malik Tillman used his heel to send Christian Kofane free in front of the Cologne goal, but Marvin Schwäbe rushed out of it with strong timing and was able to fend off the Bayer striker’s shot. On Leverkusen’s second opportunity, Schwäbe did not have to intervene; an attempt from Tillman from 18 meters went just wide (18′).
After 20 minutes, Cologne went on the offensive for the first time – and it was more dangerous than ever before in this game. Said El Mala showed his class on the left wing and prevailed, then the FC shooting star played the ball precisely with his outside instep to Luca Waldschmidt, who couldn’t get the ball on goal with his tackle (21′). Shortly afterwards, Waldschmidt aimed a dropkick more accurately, but Mark Flekken saved the powerful shot (28th).
Let Andrich and Tillman One hundred percent out of
Leverkusen controlled the game, but the game lacked the tempo to pose a serious threat to Cologne’s deep defense. A stationary ball gave us the best chance to take the lead, but Andrich’s header from four meters failed and missed the goal – that should have been 1-0 (34′). A minute later, the Swabian thwarted an 18-meter shot from Jonas Hofmann (35′).
Leverkusen continued to run after the break, but were simply weak in front of the goal. Tillman took the ball from Sebastian Sebulonsen in the center circle and ran alone towards the opponent’s goal, but then shot three meters over from 16 meters (48th). Then Ibrahim Maza powered through, this time Schwäbe was able to throw his hands up from close range and parry (50th). The Cologne goalkeeper also fended off Kofane’s header (55′).
Terrier comes in and enchants the BayArena
However, the guests were not completely inactive on the offensive, Linton Maina came on as a substitute for the second half and showed this freshness with a strong dribble, but like Schwäbe, Flekken also had a good day up to this point and saved the shot from 19 meters (59th).
Joker Maina didn’t score – but Leverkusen’s Joker struck. Four minutes after being substituted, Terrier redeemed the “Werkself” with an absolute dream goal (66th). After a cross from Arthur, the Bayer striker scored with a “scorpion kick”, in which the ball was lifted with his heel over his body and into the FC goal. And it wasn’t just a beautiful goal, but also an extremely important one. Leverkusen had previously lost two Bundesliga games in a row, but now they had another win thanks to Terrier.
Andrich puts the lid on it
That would have been dry a long time ago if Schwäbe hadn’t saved again and again – including after a corner when the goalkeeper saved Ragnar Ache from an own goal (71′). However, there was a corner again and Cologne’s weakness in the standard situation took revenge this time. As in the first half, Andrich was given the chance with his head and this time he took advantage of it (72′).
“It was very important that I got this second chance. In the first half I already had the thing on my head, I actually have to do it. That’s why I was happy that I was able to do it in the second half, because it’s nice to stand in the air and put it in.”said Andrich in the Sportschau interview after the game.
Leverkusen challenges Leipzig
With his goal the game was decided. Cologne had often shown strong finishing abilities in recent months, but Leverkusen were too strong on the ball and generally too concentrated to allow tension to arise again. The “Werkself” moved up to fourth place in the table and can overtake current runners-up RB Leipzig in a direct duel next Saturday (6:30 p.m.).
Cologne, on the other hand, has to increasingly focus downwards after coach Lukas Kwasniok’s team only got two points from the last five games. “I didn’t think we played a decent away game, we were inferior from the first to the last minute. Rarely has a team been so superior to us.”said Kwasniok in the Sportschau interview. On Saturday afternoon, the promoted side will make its next attempt to turn things around when Union Berlin visits (3:30 p.m.).