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24/04 6:30 PM

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KOE Cologne Cologne - B04 Leverkusen Bayer Leverkusen

KOE

1

B04

2

L. Waldschmidt
77'
52'
P. Schick

43'
P. Schick

RheinEnergieSTADION(Sold out)

Robert Hartmann

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42 %Patrik Schick

Patrik Schick

0:15

Watch: Schick on a "good day" for Leverkusen

Full-time: Cologne 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen

Schick's brace sent Leverkusen on their way to victory over local rivals Cologne, who struck late through Waldschmidt but an equaliser eluded the Billy Goats. It's a huge win for Kasper Hjulmand's charges, who have won three of their last four Bundesliga games, as they eye fourth spot, enough to secure them UEFA Champions League football.

© IMAGO/Jan Huebner

Full-time

0:30

Corner!

El Mala wins his duel to win a corner, which is met by the head of Waldschmidt but Tapsoba is on hand to clear the ball before Blaswich denies Chávez.

90'

+ 5

Blaswich carded

The Leverkusen custodian is shown a yellow card for time wasting.

90'

+ 5

Yellow card

90'

+ 1

Into added time

The fourth official has signalled six additional minutes.

89'

Blaswich collects

As Cologne press for the equalising goal, Leverkusen are dropping deeper and deeper, but Blaswich is on hand to pluck the ball out of the air.

86'

Changes at both ends

As Leverkusen look to see the game out, Badé replaces Quansah. For Cologne, there's an extra attacker on the pitch in the form of Niang, who replaces Martel.

85'

Substitution

Youssoupha Niang

85'

Substitution

84'

Leverkusen clinical

xGoals

The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).

Despite Cologne's 19 shots on goal, Leverkusen have been far more clinical in the final third, converting two of their eight shots.

xGoals

1

2.3

1.99

2

Goals

Game on!

Cologne half the deficit with a route one goal! El Mala brings down a long ball but the ball eventually breaks free after Leverkusen fail to clear, and Waldschmidt is on hand to fire home!

© IMAGO/Steffie Wunderl

77'

Luca Waldschmidt

GOAL!

1:2

Assist:Saïd El Mala

Luca Waldschmidt

Goal probability

Goal probability

Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.

26 %

Shot speed

Shot speed

Shot speed describes the maximum speed in km/h that a ball reaches in a shot on goal. The distance is measured from the location of the shot to the centre of the goal.

105.7 km/h

Distance to Goal

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

10.48 m

0:24

Time is running out

Waldschmidt finds himself on the end of Thielmann's cross, but Blaswich is on hand to deny the German's header.

72'

Changes for both teams

Two attacking players for Cologne as Chávez and Waldschmidt enter the fray, while Arthur replaces Culbreath on the right for the visitors with Fernández replacing García in midfield. Ben Seghir also comes on.

72'

Substitution

Eliesse Ben Seghir

72'

Substitution

Ezequiel Fernández

72'

Substitution

Montrell Culbreath

72'

Substitution

Luca Waldschmidt

Ísak Jóhannesson

72'

Substitution

Kristoffer Lund

69'

Ambitious from Andrich

After successive duels in the middle of the park, Andrich strikes the ball first time from the halfway line but his looping effort sails wide of the mark.

67'

El Mala again

It's not the German's afternoon in front of goal. This time, he blazes his effort over the crossbar from a promising position. Time is running out for Cologne...

64'

Over!

The substitutes combine, but Castro-Montes heads over from Thielmann's cross.

63'

Counter-attack

Leverkusen look to break again, with Tillman playing in Schick but Simpson-Pusey stands firm to deny the Czech forward.

61'

Hjulmand reacts

Leverkusen make a change of their own, with Tillman replacing Maza.

61'

Substitution

60'

Double change

Wagner makes two changes with Thielmann and Castro-Montes replacing Bülter and Maina. Can the Billy Goats find a way back into this game?

59'

Substitution

Alessio Castro-Montes

60'

Substitution

55'

Pressure Handling

Pressure Handling

This Match Fact examines how successfully players perform under pressure. The percentage of "solved situations" indicates how often a player has freed himself from opponent pressure by dribbling, passing, scoring a goal or drawing a foul.

85%

%

Exequiel Palacios

13 times under pressure

Schick strikes again

The Leverkusen forward converts a swift counter-attack, finishing from close range after finding himself on the end of Tella's cross. That's now six goals in his last five games, and seventh in eight games against the Billy Goats.

© IMAGO/Adrian Schlüter

52'

Patrik Schick

GOAL!

0:2

Assist:Nathan Tella

Patrik Schick

Goal probability

Goal probability

Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.

64 %

Distance to Goal

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

5.46 m

51'

Golden opportunity

Another chance goes begging for the hosts! Maina races through on goal before laying the ball off for Kamiński but Blaswich is equal to it, denying the Pole.

49'

El Mala denied

Cologne's rising star has been central to their attack this afternoon. This time, he's again denied by Blaswich after a duel with Andrich.

46'

We're back under way

Leverkusen get the ball rolling for the second half, with neither side making a change at the break.

Kick-off!

Half-time: Cologne 0-1 Bayer Leverkusen

The visitors survived an early onslaught from the hosts, who came close through Kamiński and El Mala but against the run of play, took the lead after Schick converted his spot-kick following Martel's handball.

© Pau Barrena

Half-time

45'

+ 1

Into added time

The fourth official has signalled two additional minutes.

45'

+ 1

Free-kick

The resulting free-kick, taken by García, is cleared by Cologne.

45'

Cautioned

The Cologne midfielder bodychecks Grimaldo, conceding a free-kick in a dangerous position.

45'

Yellow card

Ísak Jóhannesson

Leverkusen lead!

Schick stutters in his run-up before smashing the ball past Schwäbe, who gets a good hand on the ball but is unable to prevent it from going in.

© Pau Barrena

43'

Patrik Schick

GOAL!

0:1

Penalty

Patrik Schick

Goal probability

Goal probability

Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.

77 %

Shot speed

Shot speed

Shot speed describes the maximum speed in km/h that a ball reaches in a shot on goal. The distance is measured from the location of the shot to the centre of the goal.

101.17 km/h

Distance to Goal

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

11 m

42'

Penalty!

Martel, in an attempt to block the ball, does so with his hand. Up steps Schick...

41'

SituationPenalty

ReviewHandball?

DecisionPenalty

39'

How hasn't there been a goal

xGoals

The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).

While Leverkusen are dominating (60 percent possession to Cologne's 40), it should be the hosts who are leading after El Mala's golden opportunity.

xGoals

0

1.19

0.56

0

Goals

0:27

Post!

El Mala rounds the onrushing Blaswich but from a tight angle with the goal at his mercy, is only able to find the post.

Tella denied

On his 100th Leverkusen appearance, the attacker is unable to find a way through Cologne's compact defence.

© INA FASSBENDER

29'

Kamiński again!

The ball bounces around the Leverkusen penalty area before the Pole strikes the ball superbly, stinging the palms of Blaswich who collects the ball at the second attempt.

27'

Cologne probing

Sebulonsen plays a one-two with Maina down the right but is halted in the penalty area by Tapsoba, who was alert to the situation.

Level pegging

There's been chances at both ends, but it remains goalless as we pass the midway point of the first half.

© INA FASSBENDER

20'

In focus

El Mala, who has 11 goals in 31 appearances in his maiden season in the Bundesliga, has been at the heart of Cologne's attack, registering three shots on goal, one of which forced Blaswich into an excellent save.

Shots

3

1

Saïd El Mala Jarell Quansah

16'

Quansah denied

Leverkusen have survived Cologne's early onslaught and are going in search of the opening goal. Culbreath crosses from the right into the path of Quansah, who makes a late run, but the Englishman - who shoots first time - is denied by Schwäbe.

0:22

Post!

Against the run of play, Schick almost capitalises on Martel's error. The Leverkusen forward bides his time before placing his effort past Schwäbe, but the ball comes back off the post.

13'

In control

xGoals

The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).

It's all Cologne so far. They've seen more of the ball and have registered five shots to Leverkusen's zero. The hosts have started incredibly well.

xGoals

0

0.58

0

Goals

11'

Free-kick

Blaswich is called into action again. The Leverkusen custodian gets down low to save Sebulonsen's free-kick.

10'

First caution

The Leverkusen defender goes into the book for bringing down El Mala, and halting Cologne's attack.

10'

Yellow card

9'

El Mala shoots...

...but it's saved by Blaswich, who gets a palm to the ball before Leverkusen clear.

Kamiński!

That should have been the opening goal! The Pole doesn't give up, but he slices his shot from close range which hits the side netting. What a start we have here.

© IMAGO/Jordi Mergen

3'

Another chance!

Cologne are hungry. Quansah's pass goes astray, allowing El Mala to pick up the ball and drive past Andrich but his left-footed effort trickles past Blaswich's post.

2'

Early chance

Kamiński drives forward from his own half before playing the ball into Bülter, who occupies the channel, but his chipped cross is caught by Blaswich.

1'

Off we go

The Rhine derby is under way - Cologne get the ball rolling!

Kick-off!

Kick-off approaching

Cologne's anthem fills the air at a sun-soaked RheinEnergieStadion with plenty on the line. A win for the hosts will put a gap between themselves and the relegation zone, while a Leverkusen win will see Hjulmand's side close the gap to fourth.

0:21

Watch: Leverkusen head out for their warm-up

Milestone

Tella makes his 100th appearance across all competitions for Leverkusen.

© DFL/Getty Images/Lukas Schulze

More on that Cologne team

Bülter (pictured) replaces the injured Ache for Cologne. Maina and Lund also come in for Thielmann and Castro-Montes.

© IMAGO/LUKA KOLANOVIC

More on that Leverkusen team

Kasper Hjulmand makes two changes to his team that exited the DFB Cup to Bayern Munich, with Blaswich and Culbreath (pictured) replacing Flekken and Vázquez.

© DFL/Getty Images/Lukas Schulze

Starting line-up: Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Leverkusen subs

Omlin, Badé, Arthur, Oermann, Fernández, Hofmann, Tillman, Ben Seghir, Poku

Starting line-up: 1. FC Köln

Formation:3-4-1-2

Cologne subs

Zieler, Schmied, van den Berg, Krauß, Castro-Montes, Chávez, Thielmann, Waldschmidt, Niang

0:21

Watch: Inside the Cologne dressing room

0:11

Watch: Idyllic weather in Cologne

Kasper Hjulmand on facing Cologne

"Cologne haven't lost in five games and are in good form but we know what to expect and we're ready. The team and everyone here know how important this derby is. We now have four games left and we'll do everything we can to win them."

© IMAGO/Ulrich Hufnagel

René Wagner on facing Leverkusen

"Leverkusen will hopefully have problems with our intensity. We want to make the Leverkusen players do some hard running. We have a good plan for Saturday, want to implement it, and will hopefully be rewarded for it in the end."

© IMAGO/pepphoto / Horst Mauelshagen

Leverkusen's danger man

Patrik Schick has scored four goals in his last four Bundesliga outings. His header against Augsburg was his 22nd headed goal in the Bundesliga, which is more than any other active player. Schick also has a strong individual record against Cologne, having never lost in seven competitive matches across all competitions against the Billy Goats (6W, 1D), scoring five goals in total.

© IMAGO/Celina Leiers

Rich vein of form

Cologne are now unbeaten in their last five Bundesliga matches - their longest such run in over three years, last achieving the same feat in early 2023 under Steffen Baumgart.

© Stuart Franklin

2:03

Watch: Leverkusen 1-2 Augsburg - highlights

Leverkusen were stunned at home last time out against Augsburg. As a result, they're now four points off the UEFA Champions League places.

2:03

Watch: St. Pauli 1-1 Cologne - highlights

René Wagner's side scored late to rescue a point against relegation rivals Pauli. The result means Cologne are currently on 31 points alongside Gladbach, Hamburg and Bremen.

2:03

Watch: Leverkusen 2-0 Cologne - previous meeting

Kasper Hjulmand's side won the most recent Rhine derby on Matchday 14, thanks to goals from Martin Terrier and Robert Andrich.

Hello and welcome!

Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of this Matchday 31 fixture between Cologne and Bayer Leverkusen.