Despite being the better side for large portions of the game, 1. FC Köln fell to a 2:1 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday afternoon. After dominating the first-half, FC fell behind to Patrik Schick’s penalty just before the break.
The Czech striker doubled the lead on the counter, before Luca Waldschmidt halved the deficit. The late push had the RheinEnergieSTADION off their feet but Leverkusen somehow managed to hang on for the three points.
Team news
René Wagner made three changes to the side that started the draw against FC St. Pauli last week. Kristoffer Lund, Linton Maina and Marius Bülter replaced Alessio Castro-Montes, Jan Thielmann and Ragnar Ache.
Kasper Hjulmand opted for two alterations from the midweek Pokal loss to Bayern. Janis Blaswich and Montrell Culbreath came in for Mark Flekken and Lucas Vazquez.
Behind at the break
FC were hot off the mark with a raucous atmosphere in the RheinEnergieSTADION. Said El Mala almost opened the scoring in the third minute after nicking in ahead of Robert Andrich, though he couldn’t find the finish under pressure from Edmond Tapsoba. Jakub Kamiński rattled the side-netting moments later after bulling his way into the box.
El Mala’s curling effort from 20 yards was parried by Blaswich and somehow holding onto Sebastian Sebulonsen’s free-kick not long after. After 10 minutes of dominance, a misplaced Eric Martel pass brought the visitors’ first chance. Patrik Schick looked to have scored, only for the ball to cannon off the post and into Marvin Schwäbe’s gleeful grasp.
Schwäbe was alert to keep out Jarell Quansah’s toe-poke, before FC went back to pushing for the opener. El Mala was halted by Blaswich one-on-one before Eric Martel thundered a volley straight at the Leverkusen stopper 10 yards out. El Mala had the best chance of the lot after he rounded Blaswich after a poorly-timed backpass, only to hit the post from a tight angle.
Come as it would, FC were dealt a blow before the break. Eric Martel was adjudged to have handled after the ball sprang from his stomach onto his arm, with Robert Hartmann wasting no time in pointing to the spot. Patrik Schick stepped up and managed to place the ball beyond Schwäbe to give the visitors a half-time lead.
Late Waldschmidt goal isn’t enough
FC started the second-half strongly but, again, failed to take their chances. Linton Maina’s pass was behind Jakub Kamiński, meaning he was unable to get a meaningful shot off. The counter following that effort saw Leverkusen double their lead. Nathan Tella led the attack, and his cross was met by Schick’s outstretched boot to prod home his and the visitors’ second.
Despite the dampener to start the second period, FC didn’t let their heads drop. After Said El Mala twice shot wide and Ísak Jóhannesson waited too long before pulling the trigger, Luca Waldschmidt gave hope for a late charge. El Mala was halted by Robert Andrich but the ball fell perfectly for Waldschmidt to thunder home from close range.
René Wagner’s side pilled on the pressure late on but Leverkusen managed to hold on, as Jakub Kamiński’s header was clawed off the line with the final attack of the game. FC are next in action on Saturday, 2nd May against 1. FC Union Berlin. Kick-off at the Stadion an der Alten Försterei is at 15:30 CEST.
Line-ups
1. FC Köln (4-2-3-1): Schwäbe – Sebulonsen, Simpson-Pusey, Cenk, Lund (Waldschmidt 72’) – Jóhannesson (Chávez 72’), Martel (Niang 85’) – Maina (Castro-Montes 59’), Kamiński, Bülter (Thielmann 59’) – El Mala.
Bayer Leverkusen (4-2-3-1): Blaswich – Quansah (Bade 85’), Andrich, Tapsoba – Culbreath (Arthur 73’), Aleix Garcia (Fernandez 73’), Palacios, Grimaldo – Maza (Tillman 61’), Tella (Ben Seghir 73’) – Schick.
Goals: 0:1, Schick (PEN) 43‘. 0:2, Schick 52’. 1:2, Waldschmidt 78’.
Referee: Robert Hartmann (Wangen).
Booked: Tapsoba (9‘), Jóhannesson (45‘), Blaswich (90+5’).
Attendance: 50,000 (sold-out).