Black day for Leverkusen
Wirtz shock and no point at Cologne
03/13/2022, 7:50 p.m
Leverkusen experienced a bitter afternoon at their neighbors in Cologne. In a heated derby, a goal decides the game at the end. While Cologne can slowly squint in the direction of the European Cup, the long loss of international Wirtz weighs more heavily for Bayer than the bankruptcy.
Bayer Leverkusen suffered a setback in the fight for the Champions League in a heated Rhine derby – and also lost young national player Florian Wirtz in the long term with a serious knee injury. The Werkself lost 1-0 (0-0) to 1. FC Köln. The ex-Kölner Wirtz had to leave the field early and was taken to a clinic during the game. The devastating diagnosis followed in the evening: tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in the left knee. Joker Kingsley Schindler (67th) scored for Cologne. For Bayer, who remain third, it was the first bankruptcy after seven league games in a row without defeat. With the away three, Cologne overtakes Union Berlin in seventh place, which may still entitle them to participate in the European Cup.
Bayer coach Gerardo Seoane changed his starting eleven to four positions after the completely disappointing 2-3 win in the first leg of the Europa League at Atalanta Bergamo. Right from the start, Leverkusen had to deal with extremely bilious Cologne players who did more for the game. There were initially no scenes in the goal area, but the 22,658 spectators saw many heated duels and emotions.
After one of these duels, Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong had to leave the field after just 13 minutes due to an ankle injury. As a result, the game also picked up speed in and around the two penalty areas. After 15 minutes, Cologne’s Ondrej Duda tested Bayer keeper and captain Lukas Hradecky. At the other end, Paulinho (17′) was denied by Marvin Schwäbe, who brilliantly parried with his foot.
Quieter second half
After a save by Hradecky against Florian Kainz, Bayer was rock solid: Young star Wirtz twisted his left knee in a duel against Luca Kilian and had to be taken off the field on a stretcher after minutes of treatment – there was initially no precise diagnosis.
The interruption caused a break in the previously lively game. Bayer’s winger Moussa Diaby only had a huge opportunity after a blunder from Ellyes Skhiri, which he missed. Kerem Demirbay narrowly missed a free kick.
Things got a lot quieter in the BayArena in the second half. The game was disorganized and there were few chances. Then Schindler, who had been substituted on just three minutes earlier, struck out of nowhere with a direct acceptance. Schwäbe prevented the equalizer by defending his foot again from a Demirbay shot, a little later substitute Sardar Azmoun stepped over the ball twice from a good position (74’/79′).