Berlin: A backheel goal from Martin Terrier set Bayer Leverkusen on the way to a 2-0 win over derby rivals Cologne on Saturday, returning the hosts to fourth in the Bundesliga.
Terrier’s no-look backheel put Leverkusen in front after 66 minutes, with home captain Robert Andrich heading in from a corner shortly after. The 2023-24 champions had fallen to sixth after Hoffenheim and Eintracht Frankfurt won earlier on Saturday but will finish the weekend in the top four.
The derby between the Rhine neighbours had an uneasy atmosphere. Hundreds of ultras from both sides boycotted the match, with a Cologne fan group complaining of “inappropriate” and “very intense” police checks, according to German sports magazine Kicker.
Just after halftime, Malik Tillman had a golden chance to put Leverkusen in front when one-on-one with Cologne goalie Marvin Schwaebe but blasted over the bar. The hosts broke through in spectacular fashion when Terrier somehow connected with a misplaced pass, looping it over the ‘keeper.
Andrich’s header gave the hosts breathing space, putting Leverkusen on track for victory. Earlier on Saturday, a brilliant solo goal from Ritsu Doan took Eintracht Frankfurt to a hard-fought 1-0 home win over Augsburg.
The victory sent Frankfurt, who have struggled to manage domestic and European commitments this season in just their second Champions League campaign, into sixth. “You can see we lack a bit of freshness,” Frankfurt coach Dino Toppmoeller told reporters, adding: “The last six months have been very stressful.
“Today’s performance was one driven by great willpower.” Augsburg had two strikes chalked off by VAR early against a shaky Frankfurt defence who had conceded 15 goals in their past five games. Midway through the second-half, Japan international Doan weaved through four Augsburg defenders before hitting a deflected shot past Finn Dahmen.
