BERLIN — Goals from Aleix Garcia and Patrik Schick took Bayer Leverkusen to a tense 2-1 derby win at Cologne on Sunday, lifting the visitors to fifth in the Bundesliga table.
Garcia curled an excellent effort into the top corner after just seven minutes and Schick scored five minutes from time in a fiery encounter which produced 11 yellow cards, including six for the hosts.
Germany starlet Said El-Mala scored a stoppage-time consolation goal for the hosts, who sit in 15th spot, just one clear of the relegation playoffs placing.
One of several derbies in Germany’s football-mad north-west, Cologne and Leverkusen are just 10 kilometres (six miles) apart.
The travelling support teased the hosts with chants referring to the 2023-24 season, when Leverkusen won their maiden Bundesliga title and Cologne were relegated.
Leverkusen broke through just seven minutes in when Garcia’s free-kick flew over the wall and into the top-left corner, with a helpless Cologne goalie Marvin Schwaebe watching on, AFP reported.
Just before the break, the Spaniard found Jarell Quansah in space but the England centre-back headed just wide.
Well handled by the Leverkusen defence, the hosts grew increasingly frustrated, picking up five of their six yellow cards in the second-half.
Schick had a goal rubbed out for handball with ten minutes to go but broke through just five minutes later, slotting in on the counter for an eighth goal in nine league games this season.
El-Mala scored one of his own in stoppage time but the goal came too late to launch a Cologne comeback.
