Alexi García inspires Bayer Leverkusen to famous away victory against Cologne
Bayer Leverkusen defeated Cologne 2-1 in a feisty Rhine derby clash. Aleix García's free kick and Patrik Schick's late strike did the damage for Die Werkself. Saïd El Mala scored a stoppage-time consolation goal, assisted by his brother, but it wasn't enough to earn his side a point.
Cologne 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen
Goals: 0-1 García 7’, 0-2 Schick 85’ (assist: Maza), 1-2 S. El Mala 90’+2 (assist: M. El Mala)
René Wagner made just one change to his Cologne starting XI from their draw at Union Berlin, with Mikey Moore starting in place of Ísak Jóhannesson. Leverkusen head coach Carles Martínez also made a change after his side's defeat against Stuttgart, with Malik Tillman coming in for Lucas Vázquez.
Frantic start, García's stunner
The match burst into life immediately. Linton Maina tested Mark Flekken inside seconds, and Cologne's Sebastian Sebulonsen also forced an early save, before Ibrahim Maza set up Patrik Schick, who was denied by a fine Marvin Schwäbe stop. Schwäbe produced another sharp save from Maza's follow-up before Aleix García stepped up to a free kick around 20 metres out in the seventh minute and curled it into the top left corner for 0-1.
Sebulonsen almost levelled soon after, but his effort from close range went straight at Flekken. Tom Krauß was booked for a late challenge on Maza, while Facundo Medina picked up a yellow card for pushing Marius Bülter. Cologne went in at the break trailing 0-1.
Cards fly as Schick seals it
The second half turned feisty. Moore was booked moments after the restart for fouling Medina, and a flashpoint around a penalty appeal led to yellow cards for Maina and Afonso Moreira, followed shortly by one for Edmond Tapsoba. Joël Schmied and Borna Sosa were also booked as the game grew heated.
Schwäbe kept Cologne in it with another excellent save to deny Schick from the edge of the box. A Schick finish was ruled out for handball in the build-up, but in the 85th minute he made it count, latching onto a pass from Maza to beat Schmied and slot in off the far post for 0-2.
Late El Mala flourish
Cologne's late introductions of Malek El Mala, Reigan Heskey and Jóhannesson brought a spark. In stoppage time, M. El Mala crossed sharply from the right for his brother Saïd El Mala, who met it first time to beat Flekken and make it 1-2.
It was too late to turn the tie around, and after further bookings for García, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and Jonas Hofmann in the closing minutes, Leverkusen held on to win the Rhine derby.
Man of the Match: Aleix García
García opened the scoring with a brilliantly struck free kick from 20 metres that flew into the top corner, and he went on to record a team-high fantasy points tally of 328 along with the best pass efficiency figure on the pitch at 4.79.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Cologne 1.38 - Leverkusen 2.03
Fastest player: Linton Maina (Leverkusen), 34.24 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 0-1 by Aleix García (Leverkusen), 10 per cent
Pass efficiency: García (Leverkusen), +4.79
Fantasy Heroes: García (Leverkusen, 328 Points), Schick (Leverkusen, 234 Points), Flekken (Leverkusen, 179 Points)
