Cologne fan scene boycotts game
©IMAGO
First there was huge fan anger, then a magic goal: Martin Terrier paved the way for Bayer Leverkusen to a 2-0 win in the emotional Rhine derby against newly promoted 1. FC Köln with a stroke of genius. In front of 30,210 spectators, the Frenchman scored with a backheel in the 66th minute to take a 1-0 lead, which Robert Andrich (72nd) extended. With 26 points, the Werkself remain in fourth place after 14 games in the Bundesliga. Cologne initially remains ninth with 16 points, but could fall back on Sunday.
The first excitement occurred before kick-off. Around 500 FC fans from the active scene boycotted the game in protest against what they considered to be excessively intensive entry controls. There was also talk of “nudity checks”, which the club was initially unable to confirm. According to the Leverkusen team, the entry controls in the guest area were “calm and without incident”. Regardless of the game, police measures took place, “which led to around 500 1. FC Köln fans leaving the stadium. We have no knowledge of the nature or extent of the measures, as Bayer 04 were not involved here,” said the Werkself club.
Things were much more tranquil on the pitch in the first half. The home team, who had to do without their top scorer Alejandro Grimaldo (muscular problems) and striker Patrik Schick, tried hard from the start. Apart from a chance for Christian Kofane, which FC goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe thwarted with a brilliant reflex, the Werkself initially remained harmless on offense. Cologne coach Lukas Kwasniok had bravely lined up five offensive players, but there was hardly anything going forward for the guests. Only when Said El Mala fired up the turbo on the left wing after 20 minutes did things become dangerous. However, Luca Waldschmidt was unable to capitalize on his low cross at the far post. A little later, Waldschmidt failed with a hard shot past Bayer goalkeeper Mark Flekken.
Leverkusen double strike within 6 minutes
Leverkusen lacked ideas and precision on the final pass. Coach Kasper Hjulmand, who was back on the bench after his personal break in the Champions League game against Newcastle United (2-2), emphasized before kick-off: “This is a super important game for the club. Of course we want the win.” However, little came out of the game for his team. Captain Andrich put a header just wide after a corner, Jonas Hofmann failed with a long-range shot from Schwäbe – nothing more happened until the break.
After the change, things became much livelier. After a mistake by FC defender Sebastian Sebulonsen, Malik Tillman suddenly had free rein and should have given Bayer the lead, but the US international put the ball well over the Cologne goal. A little later, Kofane’s header was denied by Schwäbe. On the other side, Flekken had to stretch twice – first from a free kick from Sebulonsen, then from a shot from substitute Linton Maina. Then came Terrier’s big performance: he artistically maneuvered a cross from Arthur with his heel into the far corner. When Andrich followed up with a header a little later, the game was decided.