Tayfun Korkut again had to manage without Hakan Calhanoglu (CAS ban) plus the injured Lars Bender (ankle) and Ömer Toprak (foot). On top of that, Kevin Volland dropped out ahead of the game against FC Köln with a muscle problem. He was replaced in the starting eleven by Chicharito. Jonathan Tah returned to central defence in place of Aleksandar Dragovic (bench) with Julian Brandt coming in for Admir Mehmedi (bench) in midfield.
Lively start
The Werkself made it clear from the kick-off in the last home game of the season that they wanted to dominate proceedings in front of a capacity crowd at the BayArena. The visitors from the other side of the Rhine found it difficult to get into the game against a Werkself side playing on the front foot. Korkut’s team created chances. The agile and always available Stefan Kießling was unlucky with headers on 8, 10 and 13 minutes that were saved by the in form FC Köln keeper Timo Horn.
However, the Werkself could not find the back of the net. That became even more annoying when the visitors took the lead on 14 minutes with their first attempt on goal. Milos Jojic hit a low drive from 22 yards out and a deflection off Tin Jedvaj took it past the Bayer 04 shot-stopper Bernd Leno. Having taken the lead, the Rhine rivals coached by Peter Stöger focussed on playing on the break. In fact, they rarely succeeded in mounting decent attacks.
Kießling hits the post
The Werkself continued to have the upper hand in the match. Chicharito (18’, 43’) was unable to convert his chances and Kießling was unlucky with a double chance with headers within a few seconds with the first saved by Horn and the second hitting the post on 37 minutes. By the break, the Werkself had clocked up 14 shots on goal with 60 per cent possession – an indication of the flattering half-time lead for the visitors.
The second half also got off to a lively start. Brandt dribbled through the Köln defence but the Köln full back Lukas Klünter was able to turn his shot round the target for a corner. Chicharito then had the chance to level but his effort on the turn went over the bar on 48 minutes. That was followed by another setback for the Werkself a minute later: The youngster Klünter rounded off an impressive solo run with a strike to put Köln 2-0 up.
Back on terms in 11 minutes
The Werkself refused to give up after conceding the second goal. Driven forward by a frenetic crowd, Bayer 04 raised their game with Kevin Kampl coming off the bench. And they were soon rewarded. A cross from Brandt was headed in by the busy Kießling with his third goal of the season reducing the deficit on 61 minutes. That certainly had an effect. The leveller came ten minutes later: A precise cross from Kai Havertz was met by substitute Joel Pohjanpalo as he rose highest to head the ball into back of the Köln net – to make it 2-2 on 70 minutes. It was the fifth goal in the current campaign for the Finland international.
The Werkself continued to press forward and they almost succeeded in snatching the winner late on: The substitute Leon Bailey hit the right-hand post with a long-range effort on 87 minutes – the second time the woodwork frustrated Leverkusen on the day. The derby ended all square with the points shared.
The point, the other results and the fixtures on the last matchday ensure the Werkself will stay up. That means Bayer 04 can go into next Saturday’s game away to Hertha Berlin (15.30 CET) with the pressure off.
Match stats
Bayer 04: Leno – Henrichs, Tah, Jedvaj, Wendell – Baumgartlinger, Aránguiz (Kampl 57’) – Havertz (Bailey 86’), Brandt – Chicharito (Pohjanpalo 68’), Kießling
FC Köln: Horn – Klünter, Sörensen, Subotic, Heintz – Lehmann – Jojic (Rausch 75’), J. Hector – Zoller (Osako 46’), Bittencourt (Höger 57’) – Modeste
Goals: 0-1 Jojic (14’), 0-2 Klünter (49’), 1-2 Kießling (60’), 2-2 Pohjanpalo (71’)
Booked: – / Lehmann, Rausch
Referee: Günter Perl (Pullach im Isartal)
Attendance: 30,210 (sell-out)
