Prodigy talents Saïd El Mala and Ibrahim Maza hold key as Cologne and Bayer Leverkusen face off in derby
Twenty-year-old prodigies Saïd El Mala and Ibrahim Maza have the talent to steal the show when Cologne host Bayer Leverkusen in the Rhine derby on Sunday.
Eighteen months is a long time in football – just ask El Mala and Maza.
In May 2025, Maza had just finished 11th in Bundesliga 2 with Hertha Berlin. And while it was clear he had talent, the second tier was hardly the best platform for him to shine.
El Mala, meanwhile, was playing for 3. Liga outfit Viktoria Cologne, where he scored 13 goals in 32 games. That was enough to earn him a switch to local giants Cologne, who had just been promoted back to the top flight, but becoming the team’s talisman was a lot to ask of a player with no experience above the third step of the German pyramid.
Watch: Maza the next big name in the making?
However, El Mala was up to the task, netting 13 goals in 34 Bundesliga matches to become the team’s top goalscorer. His performances even earned him a call-up to the Germany squad in November 2025, although he did not get onto the pitch against Luxembourg.
Maza, meanwhile, transferred to Leverkusen at the same time. It was a summer of upheaval at the BayArena, with a host of star players, as well as head coach Xabi Alonso, departing and more than 15 new arrivals, most of whom were under 23. As such, instability was unavoidable, and it wasn't helped by the fact that Alonso’s replacement, Erik ten Hag, lasted just three competitive matches before departing.
In the first half of the season, there were clear glimpses of the attacking midfielder’s talent, such as his brace against Heidenheim on Matchday 10 and his star turn off the bench versus Paderborn in the second round of the DFB Cup. Nevertheless, he was in and out of the side and struggled for consistency amongst the many changes.
Watch: Maza scores twice as Leverkusen hammer Heidenheim in 2025/26
In the second half of the campaign, though, he established himself as one of the first names on Kasper Hjulmand’s team sheet, starting each of Leverkusen’s final 14 Bundesliga games. The side’s sixth-place finish was not for his lack of trying, and he subsequently started all four of Algeria’s games at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Maza’s displays in 2025/26 were ultimately recognised at the 2026 Ballon d’Or awards, as he made the 10-name shortlist for the Kopa Trophy as Europe’s best young player, even receiving the vote of the legendary Lionel Messi.
This season, the challenge for both was to back up their impressive maiden season among the elite, and they have done just that.
After signing a new contract in the summer, during which the Billy Goats staved off interest from Borussia Dortmund, El Mala has responded by netting four goals in his first nine games in all competitions.
His importance to Effzeh is underlined by the fact that the team have lost just one of the 15 games in which he has scored in the Bundesliga, and he became a senior international under Jürgen Klopp in September. There may be another El Mala to watch out for in the future, too, as brother Malek netted on his senior Cologne debut against Union Berlin on Matchday 8.
However, Saïd is not the finished product yet. While only Michael Olise has completed more dribbles than his 33 in the German top flight so far this season, he has been successful in only 39 percent of his attempted take-ons, and his average of 17 completed passes per game is the lowest of any Cologne player.
Watch: All El Mala's Bundesliga goals & assists
Head coach René Wagner has already publicly challenged him to look up for his teammates more frequently, but he is aware of his huge potential, as he explained during the period of Dortmund transfer speculation. “I’m glad Saïd is here. He’s a top player for us. He’s been giving it his all throughout pre-season. I could praise him all the time. He’s someone who leads by example and motivates everyone else. That’s why I’m happy he’s staying with us, and nothing’s changing there.”
Maza, meanwhile, has developed into a key cog of Carles Martínez’s Leverkusen, starting all eight of their games in the Bundesliga. The three goals he has racked up already match his total from last term, while he also has two assists. Only Patrik Schick has been involved in more league goals among his teammates so far this campaign.
He is the team’s creative hub and has taken on more players than any other teammate with 25 completed dribbles. Meanwhile, Harry Kane and Olise are the sole two players across the division to have been directly involved in more shots than Maza’s 43.
Off the ball, though, his contribution is just as essential. He covers an average of 11.7km per game and has won a league-high 111 duels.
Unsurprisingly, Martínez has been quick to praise his displays. Following his goal and assist in the win over Freiburg on Matchday 6, the Spaniard said, “He is an extremely talented player who brings us a lot. He is always ready and has a great desire to improve.
“With players like him, capable of making an effective contribution both offensively and defensively, we can always continue to move forward and improve."
Watch: Maza on his strengths
Two of the Bundesliga’s brightest young talents will take centre stage at the RheinEnergieStadion, with few occasions offering a better opportunity to shine than a derby.
