Werkself in top four after 3-1 win against Köln

Head coach Peter Bosz made four changes from the 1-1 draw at Schalke 04: Aleksandar Dragovic, Julian Baumgartlinger, Leon Bailey and Kevin Volland – the striker making his first appearance after the suspension of play – were in the starting eleven. Mitchell Weiser, Kerem Demirbay, Nadiem Amiri were rotated and Lucas Alario missed out due to a one-match ban.

Sven Bender: Scores then goes off

The Werkself started the derby with a back four with Dragovic playing at right-back. The Black and Reds were first out of the blocks: Moussa Diaby broke through on the visitors keeper Timo Horn but defender Noah Katterbach made a last-ditch sliding tackle to prevent the shot (3'). Just four minutes later came the opening goal for the Black and Reds from a corner: Bailey whipped the ball in from the right to the near post and Sven Bender was on hand to turn the ball into the back of the net. Leverkusen were rewarded for a focused and committed performance in the opening stages. The eye-catching Diaby then beat two FC Köln players but was unable to get past Horn (13').

The visitors’ first attempt on the Werkself goal came after 20 minutes. Elvis Rexhbecaj hit a free kick from 20 yards out over the top of Lucas Hradecky's net. The game then settled down with the Black and Reds controlling proceedings. Just two fouls on Volland (22') and Sven Bender (25') raised the temperature slightly. The goalscorer was initially able to carry on after a challenge from Anthony Modeste but then had to go off the pitch due to persistent pain. With the rain pouring down, he was replaced by Germany international Jonathan Tah (32').

Five minutes later, Havertz missed the target after some good work by Diaby (37) but there was more to come at the empty BayArena. Shortly after that, Wendell picked out Bailey on the left and the latter – a father for the first time at the weekend – pulled the ball back into the penalty area where Havertz was able to run on and stroke the ball into the net from six yards out (40'). Then came half-time.

Bornauw scores  – Diaby seals win

There were no changes for either side at the break. The visitors from Cologne twice approached the opposition penalty area and threatened the Leverkusen goal: A cross from the right found Jhon Cordoba unmarked but he put his header wide of the right-hand post (55'). That was quickly followed by goal to make it 2-1: A corner from the right was met by Sebastiaan Bornauw in the air and he headed the ball into the back of the net in the bottom left corner (59'). The game was open again.

After the hour mark, Paulinho and youngster Florian Wirtz came on. The 17-year-old – recently the youngest ever goalscorer in history the Bundesliga – came through the ranks at FC Köln and was today facing his former club for the first time. FC Köln were much improved in the second half but failed to create any clear-cut opportunities after scoring.

Towards the end, it was the outstanding Diaby who sealed the 3-1 victory with the help of Havertz. The Frenchman was put through on the right, he outpaced Köln’s Toni Leistner and fired the ball into the net from a tight angle (83'). Ten minutes later came the final whistle at the BayArena and the Werkself deservedly won the home derby to return to fourth spot in the Bundesliga.

Away game in Berlin

The next match for the Black and Reds is in the capital on Saturday afternoon, 20 June. Behind closed doors at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Bayer 04 face a revived Hertha with the kick off at 15.30 CET. All nine Bundesliga fixtures on matchday 33 kick off at the same time.

Match stats:

Bayer 04: Hradecky – Dragovic, S. Bender (Tah 32'), Tapsoba, Wendell – Aránguiz (Demirbay 85'), Baumgartlinger – Diaby, Havertz (Amiri 85'), Bailey (Wirtz 64') – Volland (Paulinho 64')

FC Köln: Horn – Ehizibue, Bornauw, Czichos (Leistner 56'), Katterbach – Skhiri (Höger 56'), Rexhbecaj (Kainz 78’) – Drexler, Thielmann (Uth 78’) – Cordoba, Modeste

Goals: 1-0 S. Bender (7’), 2-0 Havertz (40’), 2-1 Bornauw (59’), 3-1 Diaby (83’)

Referee: Sven Jablonski (Bremen)

Booked: Aránguiz, Dragovic – Czichos, Leistner