Bayer Leverkusen is slowly liberating itself from the bottom of the table in the Bundesliga. At 2:1 in Cologne, coach Alonso's team showed an energetic performance after an "underground" first half. However, this also requires a fiery speech - and three changes.
Two wins in a row for the first time, the derby triumph as a balm for the battered soul - at Bayer Leverkusen there was still quite a bit of cheering on Wednesday evening. The important 2:1 (0:1) at 1. FC Köln was a hard-fought success, but also a more than happy one. "The first half was underground again, that was unacceptable," said captain Lukas Hradecky. The goalkeeper had a lot to do, and the bar was saved twice. The first half in particular was "not a derby performance", said Hradecky: He had observed the lack of attitude "for the umpteenth time", "I also wonder what's going on in the heads of the players."
While Bayer was still able to celebrate, the Cologne pros sank down on the pitch after the Rheinderby, dejected and stunned. Effzeh was very frustrated. "It's very, very annoying," said goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe. "We had the first half completely under control, and the second half for long periods as well." In fact, Bayer had no chance in Cologne for 60 minutes before two successful actions turned the game around. Crucial was the substitution of Nadiem Amiri and a counterattack that worked perfectly: A deflected free kick from Amiri (65') initially found its way into the goal, the second quick attack via Jeremie Frimpong and Moussa Diaby (71') was then played out brilliantly . Previously, Benno Schmitz (30th) had put the superior FC in the lead with a volley, which is worth seeing.
In the first half only FC had set the tone. The furious 5-0 win against Union Berlin at the weekend initially gave Bayer neither security nor self-confidence. The Werkself allowed themselves to be put too much on the defensive early on and were completely harmless up front. As in the first two away games under coach Xabi Alonso, Bayer was on the way to another frighteningly weak and harmless performance. Instead of the guests, who normally focus on ball possession, FC played the game - and he did it with verve. The Cologne team dominated with the typical energy, vehemence and willingness to run. The tour after half an hour was overdue.
With a triple change after just over an hour, Alonso then gave the go-ahead to catch up. It was only now that Leverkusen were in the game, putting pressure on them and acting offensively, as they were used to. Bayer turned the game around, which hadn't happened before this season either. "It's not so much about the derby," said Hradecky: "I'm actually more pleased that we showed morale and a fight after falling behind." According to the Finnish keeper, Alonso's behavior was also a decisive factor in the improvement in performance. "Xabi tried to bring some fire into it, he did it," said Hradecky, who reported the Basque's clear words at half-time: "There was a bit of Spanish blood and passion in it. It got louder."
The commitment of the former world-class player on the Rhine got off to a slow start, but within four days there was a thrashing of the former leaders Union Berlin (5-0) and success in the derby. "We have to move on now," said Alonso. Midfielder Robert Andrich also sees Bayer "still a long way from the end of development. But you're still happy to take such a nice, dirty derby win with you." On Saturday, Leverkusen will play against their rivals VfB Stuttgart on the last day of the game before the World Cup break. Before the landmark game, Bayer, in 13th place, has just one point more than Stuttgart in 15th place.
