Bayer Leverkusen asserted their dominance in the Bundesliga with a convincing 2-0 win over Cologne, extending their lead at the top of the table to 10 points over Bayern Munich.
The victory came on the heels of Bayern’s stumble against Freiburg, providing Leverkusen with an opportunity to further solidify their position as title contenders.
The match began with Leverkusen controlling possession and dictating the pace, but it was Cologne who found themselves at a disadvantage early on when they were reduced to 10 men in the 15th minute due to a red card. Despite their numerical disadvantage, Cologne put up a spirited fight, looking to frustrate Leverkusen’s attacking efforts.
However, Leverkusen’s persistence paid off in the 38th minute when Alejandro Grimaldo’s low cross found Patrik Schick, whose flick-on set up Jeremie Frimpong to slot home from close range, giving Leverkusen a crucial lead.
In the second half, Leverkusen maintained their dominance, controlling possession and creating scoring opportunities. Their efforts were rewarded in the 73rd minute when Grimaldo doubled Leverkusen’s lead, capitalizing on a fine piece of play by substitute Amine Adli to slot the ball past the Cologne goalkeeper at the near post.
The victory further solidifies Leverkusen’s position at the top of the Bundesliga table, extending their unbeaten streak to a German record-extending 34 games in all competitions.