Bundesliga Regular Season - 31
1. FC Köln 1 - 2 FT Bayer Leverkusen
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
E. Tapsoba 10'
P. Schick 43'
45' I. Johannesson
HT
P. Schick (N. Tella) 52'
62' ↓ L. Maina ↑A. Castro-Montes
62' ↓ M. Bulter ↑J. Thielmann
↓ I. Maza ↑M. Tillman 62'
72' ↓ K. Lund ↑F. Chavez
↓ M. Culbreath ↑Arthur 72'
73' ↓ I. Johannesson ↑L. Waldschmidt
↓ A. Garcia ↑E. Fernandez 73'
↓ N. Tella ↑E. Ben Seghir 73'
78' L. Waldschmidt
85' ↓ E. Martel ↑Y. Niang
↓ J. Quansah ↑L. Bade 86'
J. Blaswich 90'+5
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
1. FC Köln
Goalkeepers
Marvin Schwabe 
MAGNET
57
Activity
57
Activity
57
Passes
0
Duels
Defenders
Sebastian Sebulonsen 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Jahmai Simpson-Pusey 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
93
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Cenk Özkaçar
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
93
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Linton Maina 
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
12%
Pass Acc
Ísak Bergmann Jóhannesson
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
72
Total Mins
73
Entry
Eric Martel 
FRIENDLY FIRE
Pen Given
Mistake
Pen Given
Mistake
3
Fouls
6.6
Rating
Kristoffer Lund 
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
4
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Forwards
Jakub Kamiński
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Marius Bulter
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
59
Total Mins
62
Entry
Said El Mala 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
7.9
Rating
BENCH
Ron-Robert Zieler 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Joel Schmied
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rav van den Berg
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jan Thielmann
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
23%
Pass Acc
Felipe Chávez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tom Krauß
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alessio Castro-Montes
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Luca Waldschmidt 
CLOSER
1
Late Goals
1
Late Goals
0
Late Assists
75
Minute
Youssoupha Niang
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
8
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Bayer Leverkusen
Goalkeepers
Janis Blaswich
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
93
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Jarell Quansah
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Robert Andrich
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Edmond Tapsoba 
SHIELD
3
Blocks
3
Blocks
0
Interceptions
2
Tackles
Midfielders
Montrell Culbreath
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
72
Total Mins
72
Entry
Exequiel Palacios
MAGNET
82
Activity
82
Activity
77
Passes
5
Duels
Aleix García
MAGNET
80
Activity
80
Activity
78
Passes
2
Duels
Alejandro Grimaldo
MAGNET
69
Activity
69
Activity
63
Passes
6
Duels
Forwards
Ibrahim Maza
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
61
Total Mins
62
Entry
Nathan Tella
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
2
Key Passes
7.3
Rating
Patrik Schick 
HITMAN
2
Goals
2
Goals
2
On Target
7.6
Rating
BENCH
Jonas Omlin
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Tim Oermann
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Loïc Badé
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
8
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Arthur
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Malik Tillman
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
32
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ezequiel Fernández
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jonas Hofmann
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Eliesse Ben Seghir
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ernest Poku
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/13/2025 | Bayer Leverkusen | 2 - 0 | 1. FC Köln | Bundesliga | BayArena |
| 02/05/2025 | Bayer Leverkusen | 3 - 2 (AET) | 1. FC Köln | DFB Pokal | BayArena |
| 03/03/2024 | 1. FC Köln | 0 - 2 | Bayer Leverkusen | Bundesliga | Cologne Stadium |
| 10/08/2023 | Bayer Leverkusen | 3 - 0 | 1. FC Köln | Bundesliga | BayArena |
| 05/05/2023 | Bayer Leverkusen | 1 - 2 | 1. FC Köln | Bundesliga | BayArena |
| 11/09/2022 | 1. FC Köln | 1 - 2 | Bayer Leverkusen | Bundesliga | RheinEnergieStadion |
| 03/13/2022 | Bayer Leverkusen | 0 - 1 | 1. FC Köln | Bundesliga | BayArena |
| 10/24/2021 | 1. FC Köln | 2 - 2 | Bayer Leverkusen | Bundesliga | RheinEnergieStadion |
| 04/17/2021 | Bayer Leverkusen | 3 - 0 | 1. FC Köln | Bundesliga | BayArena |
| 12/16/2020 | 1. FC Köln | 0 - 4 | Bayer Leverkusen | Bundesliga | RheinEnergieStadion |
12/13/2025
02/05/2025
03/03/2024
10/08/2023
05/05/2023
11/09/2022
03/13/2022
10/24/2021
04/17/2021
12/16/2020
1. FC Köln Win
Bayer Leverkusen Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 31 GD: +81
P: 30 GD: +30
P: 31 GD: +24
P: 31 GD: +16
P: 30 GD: +20
P: 31 GD: +20
P: 31 GD: -2
P: 30 GD: -4
P: 31 GD: -16
P: 31 GD: -10
P: 31 GD: -14
P: 31 GD: -20
P: 31 GD: -8
P: 31 GD: -16
P: 30 GD: -18
P: 31 GD: -27
P: 31 GD: -25
P: 31 GD: -31
League Standings
P: 31 GD: +77
P: 30 GD: +30
P: 31 GD: +24
P: 30 GD: +20
P: 31 GD: +20
P: 30 GD: +15
P: 30 GD: -4
P: 31 GD: -3
P: 31 GD: -15
P: 31 GD: -6
P: 31 GD: -14
P: 31 GD: -20
P: 31 GD: -8
P: 30 GD: -15
P: 30 GD: -18
P: 31 GD: -26
P: 31 GD: -25
P: 31 GD: -32
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Schick's Precision and Blaswich's Wall Decide the Rhineland Derby
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 75/100. A textbook lesson in ruthless efficiency saw Leverkusen snatch local bragging rights, surviving an absolute barrage of attacks through heroic goalkeeping and surgical counter-attacks.
The Early Siege
The atmosphere inside the iconic RheinEnergieSTADION was absolutely electric as local pride collided with European ambitions. Desperate to ignite their late-season push and derail their fierce rivals, 1. FC Köln brought incredible Intensity to the pitch, aggressively pursuing the opening goal. They overwhelmed the midfield, eventually registering a staggering 22 shots across the match. Yet, the visitors from Bayer Leverkusen weathered the early storm with composed possession, controlling the ball seamlessly. The breakthrough arrived firmly against the run of play just moments before the interval. In the 43rd minute, the referee pointed to the spot, allowing P. Schick to step up and calmly convert his penalty. It was a massive gut punch for the home faithful, abruptly changing the complexion of this tense derby right before the break.
A Lesson in Clinical Finishing
Coming out for the second half, the hosts tried to maintain their aggressive stance, heavily reliant on the sharp playmaking of Said El Mala, who constantly probed the opposition's defensive lines. However, Leverkusen delivered a brutal masterclass in exploiting margins. Just seven minutes after the restart, a swift sequence released N. Tella, who accurately picked out Schick in the box. The striker made no mistake, netting his second goal of the afternoon to double the advantage. This defining moment entirely shifted the Balance of the contest. Despite boasting a much higher expected goals tally of 2.41, the home side found themselves staring down a steep deficit. Leverkusen simply punished every tiny structural flaw, proving exactly why they are marching towards continental football.
The Final Stand
Staring at a painful derby defeat, the home manager turned to his bench, significantly raising the Stakes by throwing on L. Waldschmidt. The substitution worked wonders. In the 78th minute, Waldschmidt found the back of the net, sparking pandemonium in the stands and setting up a grandstand finish. The final fifteen minutes transformed into an absolute shooting gallery. This is where Janis Blaswich elevated his performance from solid to superhuman. The goalkeeper pulled off seven spectacular saves, single-handedly turning away wave after wave of desperate attacks. His heroics suffocated any lingering hope of a famous comeback, allowing Leverkusen to escape with a vital 2-1 victory that solidifies their grip on a UEFA Europa League qualification spot.
Key Questions
What made Janis Blaswich the Man of the Match?
Making seven spectacular saves, the goalkeeper single-handedly neutralized Köln's relentless barrage of 22 shots, ensuring a vital away victory for his side against the odds.
What does this mean for 1. FC Köln's season?
Stuck in mid-table with 31 points and three matches remaining, this defeat effectively ends any faint hopes of moving up, leaving them playing solely for pride.
How did substitute Janis Blaswich change the game?
While mistakenly labelled a substitute, starting goalkeeper Blaswich was the absolute game-changer, acting as an impassable wall for 90 minutes to deny a dramatic Köln comeback.
What is the Rhineland Derby?
The Rhineland Derby is the rivalry between 1. FC Köln and Bayer Leverkusen, a heated local derby that ignites the surrounding area.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Rhineland Rivalry Threatens Leverkusen’s European Ambitions
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 76/100. A fierce local rivalry injects pure chaos into a matchup where Bayer Leverkusen desperately need points to salvage their top-four dreams, making this unmissable viewing.
The Setup
When local pride takes over the RheinEnergieStadion on April 25, 2026, the form book usually goes out the window. 1. FC Köln might be lingering in mid-table obscurity down in 12th place, but a Rhineland derby changes everything. Their Form is quietly stubborn, remaining completely unbeaten in their last five league matches, although heavily reliant on hard-fought draws. For Bayer Leverkusen, sitting fifth and chasing the Champions League spots, the margin for error has totally vanished. They need a victory to maintain their European push, elevating the Stakes to a fever pitch. With both teams guaranteeing goals this season—combining for an average of nearly four per game—this clash promises fireworks from the first whistle. A soaring Stars rating confirms that elite attacking talent will dictate the tempo, even if the league positions suggest a mismatch. An unpredictable Balance of power means an upset is always lurking.
Key Battle
Marvin Schwabe against Patrik Schick. Schwabe has been facing a barrage of shots, racking up saves but struggling for clean sheets behind a leaky defense. He now faces a ruthless forward. Schick is a genuine goal machine, and keeping him quiet is Köln's only path to victory.
Our Prediction
Leverkusen’s overwhelming offensive firepower will eventually break the hosts down. Expect Köln to strike first on a rapid counter-attack, feeding off the raucous home crowd, but the visitors' sheer quality will shine through in the late stages. Our verdict is a 3-1 away victory.