Robert Andrich's towering header in the 72nd minute sealed the deal for Bayer Leverkusen, as the third-placed hosts secured a convincing 2-0 victory over ninth-placed FC Cologne in a Rhineland derby that had simmered for over an hour before exploding into life. The BayArena erupted as Andrich powered home Aleix García's corner delivery, capping off a dominant display that finally broke Cologne's stubborn resistance. Just six minutes earlier, Martin Terrier had broken the deadlock with a clinical finish that set the stage for Leverkusen's emphatic triumph.
The breakthrough arrived in the 66th minute when Arthur's precise cross found Terrier lurking in the centre of the box, and the French forward made no mistake with his right-footed strike that nestled into the bottom left corner. Cologne's defensive resolve, which had frustrated Leverkusen for the majority of the contest, finally cracked under relentless pressure. The second goal followed swiftly as García's corner kick picked out Andrich perfectly, and the midfielder's header found the same corner of Marvin Schwäbe's net, leaving the Cologne goalkeeper helpless once again.
The tactical battle had been brewing throughout the evening, with Leverkusen's possession-heavy approach testing Cologne's disciplined defensive structure. Ibrahim Maza and Malik Tillman orchestrated the hosts' attacking play from midfield, while Jarell Quansah and Edmond Tapsoba commanded the backline with authority. Cologne's game plan centered around quick transitions through Luca Waldschmidt and Marius Bülter, but they struggled to create clear-cut opportunities against Leverkusen's well-organized defense.
Leverkusen's statistical dominance told the story of their control, registering 61% possession and eight shots on target compared to Cologne's four. The hosts peppered Schwäbe's goal with 17 total attempts, while Mark Flekken was called into action just six times at the other end. Corner kicks proved decisive, with Leverkusen earning eight set pieces to Cologne's three, ultimately providing the platform for Andrich's match-sealing header.
The turning point came with Cologne's triple substitution at halftime, as Steffen Baumgart introduced Ragnar Ache, Linton Maina, and Cenk Özkacar in search of greater attacking impetus. However, this tactical gamble backfired as Leverkusen exploited the spaces left behind, with Terrier's introduction in the 62nd minute proving the masterstroke that unlocked the deadlock. The French forward needed just four minutes to make his mark after replacing Jonas Hofmann.
Leverkusen will travel to face RB Leipzig on December 20, looking to maintain their push for European qualification from third place. Cologne, meanwhile, must regroup quickly as they seek to climb away from mid-table mediocrity, with their next fixture offering a chance to bounce back from this derby disappointment.