Head coach Gerardo Seoane made three changes to the starting eleven from the 1-1 draw at Real Betis: Odilon Kossounou, Florian Wirtz and Patrik Schick started in place of Edmond Tapsoba, Amine Adli and Lucas Alario (all on the bench).
Bayer 04 made a good start to the match and impressed from the kick-off with dynamic and accurate transition play. Schick (5') and Wirtz (7') had the first promising chances for the Black and Reds but lacked accuracy in their finishing. The first goal came after a quarter of an hour: Robert Andrich reacted quickly and put Moussa Diaby through. The Frenchman dribbled for a few metres and then set up Schick who slotted the ball past the FC Köln keeper Timo Horn in the bottom right corner of the net to make it 1-0 (15').
That was the start of two crazy minutes as the Werkself extended their lead almost immediately: Andrich broke into the box after being fed the ball by Wirtz but he stumbled. As he fell, the 27-year-old, with the help of FC Köln defender Rafael Czichos, squared the ball to Karim Bellarabi who smashed the ball into the back of the net – the second goal within 120 seconds (17’). Jeremie Frimpong was within a hair's breadth of rocking the away stand with 2,800 Bayer 04 fans but his effort hit the bar (25').
There was a blow for Bayer 04 on 36 minutes when Bellarabi had to be substituted for an injury suffered in a tackle. He was replaced by Adli. The Frenchman initially had to focus on defending with his teammates as the hosts pressed in the closing stages of the first half looking to get back into the game. However, Jonathan Tah and his partner Kossounou stopped the attacks. Bayer 04 went into half-time with a 2-0 lead.
In the second half, the Seoane team again and again looked for their chance to play on the break. That did happen but there was too often a lack of accuracy that meant Schick and Co. could not increase the lead. At the other end, the team under coach Steffen Baumgart clinically exploited a slight Leverkusen slip: Jonas Hector crossed from the edge of the box to the far post for Anthony Modeste. The Frenchman controlled the ball and left Bayer 04 keeper Lukas Hradecky helpless – Köln had pulled a goal back (63').
As the hosts were then more focused on attack, the Werkself had several chances on the break. However these went unrewarded. FC Köln increased the pressure but the Leverkusen defence first held firm. However, on 83 minutes, the skipper Hradecky was beaten again for the second time on the afternoon: A throw-in was flicked on by Sebastian Anderson at the near post to Modeste who headed the ball across Hradecky and into the net to make it 2-2.
That was also the conclusion to an eventful derby. Following the draw in Cologne, Bayer 04 are now fourth in the Bundesliga but could be overtaken this evening by Union Berlin. The Werkself have little time to recover. On Wednesday, 27 October, Jonathan Tah and Co. play Karlsruher SC in the DFB Cup. The kick-off at the BayArena is at 18.30 CEST.
Match stats:
FC Köln: Horn – Schmitz (Schindler 79’), Czichos, Kilian, Hector – Özcan – Ljubicic, Kainz (Thielmann 79’) – Duda (Andersson 77’) – Uth (Schaub 90’), Modeste.
Bayer 04: Hradecky – Frimpong, Kossounou, Hincapie (Bakker 46’) – Andrich, Demirbay – Bellarabi (Adli 36’), Wirtz (Palacios 77’), Diaby (Tapsoba 77’) – Schick (Schick 87’).
Goals: 0-1 Schick (15’), 0-2 Bellarabi (17’), 1-2, 2-2 Modeste (63’, 83’)
Booked: Uth – Demirbay, Diaby, Andrich
Referee: Felix Zwayer (Berlin)
Attendance: 49,600
With seven points, Mainz 05 are currently joint seventh, level on points with sixth-placed Bayer 04. In today’s head-to-head clash (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself must be particularly wary of the clinical Mainz strike duo. For Leverkusen fans who have left it to the last minute, there are still a few tickets available from the matchday ticket office. Those following the Black and Reds from home, on the other hand, have a choice: RTL is broadcasting the match on free-to-air TV, and Werkself Radio is also offering the expert commentary of former Bayer 04 player Falko Götz. Today’s matchday news.
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Back from the international break: On Saturday 10 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself are away to Mainz 05. Ahead of the clash at the MEWA ARENA against the side currently sixth in the table, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about the team’s work during the extended international break. The Spaniard also commented, when asked, on a number of squad matters, including Ibrahim Maza.
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FSV Mainz 05 went into the international break on the back of an away win at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Currently sixth in the table, the Rheinhessen side – who have been impressive on the road – now aim to continue their good start to the Bundesliga campaign at home when they face the Werkself on Saturday, 10 October (kick-off: 15:30 CEST). In terms of squad selection, Urs Fischer once again has more options at his disposal. Up front, the Mainz coach is likely to continue relying on what is currently the league’s most successful strike partnership. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Thomas Eichin has been working for Bayer 04 for six years – as Director of Professional Teams since July 2023 – and has contributed to the successful development of our club in many areas. Today, Friday 9 October, Freiburg-born Eichin is celebrating his 60th birthday. We wish him a very happy birthday.
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Together with his family, friends and close associates, Bayer 04 Leverkusen bid farewell to Peter Hermann. The club’s long-serving assistant manager passed away on 19 September following a serious illness. Today, Thursday 8 October, Bayer 04 held an event attended by around 200 invited guests to commemorate Peter Hermann’s legacy. Representatives from the DFB and the other professional clubs where Hermann worked paid their respects to him at the BayArena.
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