Koln 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen: Schick seals derby victory

Bayer Leverkusen bounced back from successive Bundesliga defeats by overcoming rivals Koln 2-1 at RheinEnergieSTADION.

The visitors took the lead inside seven minutes after Alex Garcia rifled home a free-kick before Patrik Schick doubled the scoreline five minutes from time.

Said El Mala's stoppage-time goal threatened to set the stage for a late Koln comeback, but Leverkusen managed to keep the home side at bay.

Koln came close to taking the lead inside 22 seconds, but Linton Maina’s attempt from close range was saved by Mark Flekken before El Mala fired wide of the upright moments later.

Marvin Schwabe was then alert to deny Schick with an outstretched left hand following good work from Ibrahim Maza on the left of the box. From the resulting corner, Maza forced Schwabe into a brilliant save at the near post, before the Koln goalkeeper got up instantly to deny Malik Tillman’s rebound.

Garcia then gave his side the lead from a 25-yard free-kick in the seventh minute, lifting a finish over the wall and into the top-left corner.

Koln thought they had levelled the scoreline minutes later, but Sebastian Sebulonsen was unable to convert a left-wing centre after Flekken brilliantly saved with his right foot.

Schwabe was once again called into action as he pushed Afonso Moreira's effort from a tight angle past the right-hand post before the Koln goalkeeper made a sensational save to keep out Schick's first-time strike from the edge of the box. Maza then dragged a finish past the upright after being played through on goal as the visitors searched for a second.

Schick managed to find the back of the net in the 80th minute, but his goal was disallowed after the referee penalised the striker for handling the ball.

However, Schick was not to be denied five minutes later, as he outmuscled Joel Schmied before finding the top-left corner from eight yards.

Koln threatened a late comeback as El Mala poked home a 92nd-minute volley at the near post following a teasing right-wing centre from his brother Malek El Mala, but it was too little too late.

Schick secures bragging rights to relieve pressure on boss Martinez 

Coming into this fiery derby game, Leverkusen boss Carles Martinez urged his side to provide a big performance against Koln, and his men duly obliged. 

Leverkusen, who had only managed one victory in their previous four contests in all competitions, registered an expected goals (xG) of 1.73 from 14 shots. 

Their attacking endeavour was epitomised by Schick, who scored his eighth goal of the 2026-27 Bundesliga campaign, more than any other Leverkusen player.

Schick has scored six goals in eight Bundesliga appearances against Koln and is just three two strikes away from his 100th Bundesliga goal (currently 98).

The visitors have now scored in eight of their nine games, with only Augsburg (nine) having scored goals in more matches in the Bundesliga this season.

And Leverkusen have now won six straight league meetings with Koln, equalling their longest winning streak in this fixture.

Meanwhile, Koln have failed to win their last four league games, and they go into the international break just three points above the relegation zone.