With a convincing performance, 1. FC Köln beat Bayer 04 Leverkusen with a score of 2-0 (1-0). Yuya Osako gave FC the lead (9’) in a dominant first half, which also saw Leverkusen’s Alario sent off for violent conduct. After the break, Simon Zoller’s lofted effort decided the match and took FC out of the last place in the standings.

Simon Terodde and Frederik Sorensen were out of play. As a result, Stefan Ruthenbeck nominated Simon Zoller and Dominic Maroh for his starting line-up. Moreover, Claudio Pizarro sat on the bench and was replaced by Leonardo Bittencourt.

Osako scores

Right from the start, FC pressed intensively against the Bayer build-up play. The first chance came early, but Bittencourt could not trouble Leno from a promising position (6’). The breakthrough came just moments later: Bittencourt broke through on the left and delivered the ball perfectly to Osako. The Japanese striker picked the ball up with a great touch and beat Leno with his left foot (9’). Bittencourt was a permanent threat and 12 minutes into the match, he just missed the target from an acute angle

Alario sent off

1. FC Köln were the dominant side in a physical battle. With hard-running attackers and quick fastbreaks, FC pushed the opposition backwards, but could not extend the lead. The visitors could not respond to this pressure and suddenly were outnumbered when attacker Alario was sent off due to a violent conduct against Maroh (33’). Ruthenbeck’s men tried to make the most of the momentum, but could not add a second goal before the break as they were too sloppy in attack.

2nd half changes

Leverkusen continued with 2 fresh players: Pohjanpalo and Havertz were substituted in for Baumgartlinger and Jedvaj and the guests had an early chance when winger Brandt was in a one-on-one against Horn, but could not beat the Cologne keeper from an acute angle (47’). The guests were much more target-oriented at this stage and Ruthenbeck reacted by bringing on youngster Salih Özcan for cautioned midfielder Höger (59’).

Zoller lobs it over Leno

When the guests seemed to be closer to scoring, Simon Zoller decided the match and he benefited from a big mistake. Aranguiz unintendedly headed the ball perfectly into the path of the FC number 11, who lofted it over Leno and brought the sold-out stadium to a delirium with this two-goal lead (69’).

Three important points

Christian Clemens and Claudio Pizarro helped to make the game safe in the closing minutes, in which FC were lucky that Havertz missed the target (86’) and substitute Bellarabi only hit the side-netting (90’). Finally, 1. FC Köln earned three important points against their rivals to overtake Hamburg in the Bundesliga table.

Next match in Hoffenheim

Following the international break, Cologne will travel to Baden Wurttemberg to play TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday, 31 March (15:30).

Match Details

1. FC Köln: T. Horn – Meré, Maroh, Heintz, J. Hector – Risse, Höger (59’ Özcan), Koziello, Bittencourt (71’ Clemens) – Osako, Zoller (79’ Pizarro)

Bayer 04 Leverkusen: Leno – Jedvaj (46’ Havertz), Tah, S. Bender, Wendell – Baumgartlinger (46’ Pohjanpalo), Aranguiz – Brandt, Bailey (74’ Bellarabi) – Havertz – Alario

Goals: 1-0 Osako (9’, Bittencourt), 2-0 Zoller (69’, -)

Yellow cards: Höger (3’), Heintz (35’), Bittencourt (61’) | Wendell (41’)

Suspension: Alario (33’)

Referee: Harm Osmers

Attendance: 50,000 (sold out)