Highlights
T. Stieler
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Full-time: Cologne 0-2 Leverkusen
© IMAGO/UWE KRAFT
Full-time
90'
Time added on
There will be three minutes tacked onto the end of this game.
90'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
89'
Grimaldo on fire
To add to his goal today, Leverkusen's super Spaniard has successfully escaped from 90% of his pressure situations while 94% of his passes under pressure have gone to teammates.
84'
Triple swap
Timo Schultz makes three changes with Schmitz, Tigges and Huseinbašić coming on. The game looks up for the ten men, who will know doubt keep plugging away in the final minutes.
82'
Substitution
82'
Substitution
82'
Substitution
82'
Substitution
79'
Full-back power
Incredibly, Grimaldo and Frimpong have been directly involved in 32 Bundesliga goals for Leverkusen this term.
79'
Substitution
76'
99 for the season
Leverkusen are on 99 goals in all competitions in 2023/24. Wirtz looks to make it an even 100 with a shot at the target, but Schwäbe is equal to that effort.
73'
Grimaldo the Great
Once more, it's a Leverkusen full-back party. Frimpong scored the opener, and now Grimaldo has added a second. Adli does well to battle through on the left. His cut-back finds Grimaldo, who fires low, through Schwäbe. Bundesliga goal number nine for the Spaniard, to go with his nine assists. Amazing.
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
Distance to Goal
Distance to Goal
The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.
71'
Shot clock favours visitors
Goal attempts
6off target
0on target
8off target
4on target
69'
Diehl disappointment
That's awful for Justin Diehl, who has done his hamstring moments after coming on. There are tears in the teenager's eyes as he comes off to be replaced by Paqarada.
69'
Substitution
67'
Energetic Diehl
Diehl is straight into the thick of the action as he tries to race onto Alidou's through pass. The 19-year-old is muscled out of the action as Leverkusen bring the ball clear.
65'
Changes all around
Leverkusen make a double swap with Amine Adli and Borja Iglesias thrown into the mix. Justin Diehl, meanwhile, is on for the hosts.
65'
Substitution
65'
Substitution
65'
Substitution
Not outstanding
© IMAGO/Kirchner-Media/TH
60'
Stanišić booked
Josip Stanišić sees yellow for time wasting.
56'
Visitors pushing hard
Wirtz rolls the ball under his foot before whipping a cross into the area. His centre takes a deflection, sending the ball looping towards goal. Schwäbe palms over.
54'
Leverkusen free kick
... in an interesting position to the right of the D. Hofmann flicks it to Grimaldo, whose shot from distance is blocked.
50'
Cologne hit the post
Alidou releases Carstensen, whose chipped cut back reaches Adamyan in the centre. The Armenian connects with a flying volley and his effort bounces off the inside of the post and away from danger. Although unlucky, Adamyan should probably have scored there.
46'
Leverkusen change
Xabi Alonso has taken off the game's goalscorer Frimpong, who was on a booking. Nathan Tella comes on for the visitors.
46'
Off we go again!
The second half is underway in Cologne ...
Kick-off!
45'
+ 4
Substitution
45'
+ 4
Half-time: Cologne 0-1 Leverkusen
Xabi Alonso's men lead this Rhine Derby against the ten men of Cologne thanks to Jeremie Frimpong's eighth Bundesliga goal of the season. Despite having Jan Thielmann sent off inside the opening 15 minutes, the hosts caused one or two problems for the Bundesliga leaders in an entertaining opening 45 minutes.
Half-time
45'
+ 3
Hosts go close
Cologne counter once more and Rasmus Carstensen sends an inviting cross towards the back stick. Faride Alidou arrives to head off target. That was a very good chance.
44'
Cologne denied
Adamyan goes down in the Cologne area and the home fans shout for a penalty. Nothing doing, says the referee.
43'
Frimpong going strong
Jeremie Frimpong brings his season's Bundesliga goals tally to eight, which matches his personal best haul for an entire season.
40'
Wirtz wants more
Florian Wirtz muscles through on the left and smashes a shot at the target from an angle. Schwäbe stands firm to make an important block.
38'
Leverkusen lead
Frimpong breaks the deadlock after Grimaldo's cross from the left is scuffed into the Dutch full-back's path by Schick. That brings Frimpng's Bundesliga goal involvements up to 20 for the season.
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
Distance to Goal
Distance to Goal
The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.
37'
Schwäbe saves hosts
Marvin Schwäbe makes a big, one-handed stop to deny Wirtz from close range.
34'
Adamyan effort
Cologne counter and the ball lands at the feet of Sargis Adamyan, whose shot is blocked by Hincapié inside the Bayer box. The home fans enjoyed that move.
Tense battle
© IMAGO/nordphoto GmbH / Christian Schulze
31'
Grimaldo again
From the resulting free kick, Grimaldo pings a shot onto the roof of the Cologne net.
30'
Martel booked
Florian Wirtz skips through the Cologne defence, before Eric Martel chops down the Leverkusen No.10. The visiting players are furious as they surround Martel. The referee flashes one more yellow card.
30'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
26'
Leverkusen expects
xGoals
The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).
xGoals
0
0.12
0.21
0
Goals
26'
Chabot challenge
A crucial intervention from the Cologne defender, who blocks off Hofmann as he was about to pull the trigger in front of goal.
23'
Frimpong warned
Jeremie Frimpong lands a late challenge on Chabot and that's a booking for the B04 full back, meaning he will miss Leverkusen's next Bundesliga game against Wolfsburg through suspension.
22'
Grimaldo off target
An uncharacteristically poor free kick from Leverkusen's Spain international flies off target and we still await this game's first goal.
20'
Leverkusen on the ball
Possession (%)
2674
16'
Tempers rising
Dejan Ljubičić is booked for a late challenge on Hofmann and the crowd are incensed. Hot atmosphere out there right now.
14'
Cologne down to ten
A disaster for the hosts. Thielmann lands his studs on Xhaka's achilles and that looks painful. The Leverkusen man is not happy at all with that challenge. The referee goes to the screen to check the incident and decides that Thielmann needs to walk.
12'
SituationNo red card
ReviewFoul?
DecisionRed card
11'
Almost Ljubičić
Cologne arguably should be ahead here. A super counter-attack from the hosts leads to Maina crossing from the left. His centre lands on the head of the onrushing Dejan Ljubičić, who can only nod wide of the target.
9'
Bayer probing
Leverkusen come forward once more. Frimpong finds space on the right and crosses into the mixer. Julian Chabot hoofs clear.
6'
Steady pace
Both sides are knocking it around as they look to settle into their respective shapes. The game is being played at a solid pace and amid a fantastic atmosphere.
3'
Leverkusen go close
A lovely build-up from the visitors ends with Schick - his back to goal - rolling the ball to Hofmann, who side-foots inches wide.
1'
Peeeeep!
Cologne get us underway ....
Kick-off!
Teams out
Both sets of players take to the pitch and we're all set for the off as the sun shines down on Cologne. Will Leverkusen continue their remarkable run or can Cologne cause an upset? We're about to find out!
Super atmosphere
The RheinEnergieStadion is buzzing as the teams gather in the tunnel ahead of what is a monumental encounter between these teams.
Under 10 minutes until kick-off
Not long to go before we are underway in this one!
Watch: Cologne warm up
0:58
Watch: Leverkusen arrive at Cologne
Cologne team news
Cologne coach Timo Schultz has made four changes to his team compared to the side that started last weekend's 1-1 draw against Stuttgart. In come Hübers, Alidou, Maina and Adamyan while, Kilian, Diehl, Huseinbašić and Kainz all drop to the bench. This is the most changes Schultz has made in his brief spell at the Billy-Goats to date.
Leverkusen team news
© IMAGO/Moritz Mueller
Cologne starting XI
Schwäbe (c) - Carstensen, Hübers, Chabot, Finkgräfe - Alidou, Martel, Ljubicic, Maina - Adamyan, Thielmann
Cologne subs
Pentke, Paqarada, Kilian, Heintz, Schmitz, Huseinbašić, Kainz, Diehl, Tigges
Leverkusen starting XI
Hrádecký (c) - Stanišić, Tah, Hincapié - Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo - Hofmann, Wirtz - Schick
Leverkusen subs
Kovář, Kossounou, Tapsoba, Puerta, Palacios, Adli, Tella, Iglesias, Hložek
Xabi's half century
Today marks Xabi Alonso's 50th Bundesliga game as a coach. Only Pep Guardiola (80%), Hansi Flick (78%) and Carlo Ancelotti (73%) had a higher win rate than Leverkusen's tactician (65%).
Cologne's reasons for optimism
Last weekend's 1-1 draw away to high-flying Stuttgart meant that Cologne had picked up points in four of their previous five games (one win, 3 draws). The Billy-Goats were also the side to end Leverkusen's nine-game unbeaten streak in the second half of the 2022/23 campaign.
Alonso's view on Cologne
© IMAGO/Mika Volkmann
Schultz's view on Leverkusen
© IMAGO/Herbertz / Nico Herbertz
3:32
Watch: Leverkusen - strength, depth and a first Bundesliga title?
Probable line-ups
© IMAGO/osnapix / Hirnschal
A Rhine gulf
Leverkusen are 44 points ahead of Cologne coming into this game, which is the largest gap ever between these two near neighbours prior to a Bundesliga encounter.
2:03
Watch: Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 Cologne - previous meeting
2:03
Watch: Stuttgart 1-1 Cologne - highlights
2:03
Watch: Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 Mainz - highlights
0:30