Bundesliga: Bayer Leverkusen against 1. FC Cologne

Friedhelm Funkels start in his very last rescue mission has gone badly.

The veteran coach lost the Bundesliga derby at Bayer Leverkusen 0: 3 (0: 1) on his comeback from retirement with the acutely threatened 1. FC Köln, but there was no spark in the relegation battle. (The course of the game for reading)

Bayer reported back in the fight for the Champions League qualification. Loan coach Hannes Wolf’s team reduced the gap to fourth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt, who lost to Borussia Mönchengladbach in the afternoon, to six points. (Results and schedule of the Bundesliga)

Sparkle: Result does not reflect the course of the game

Despite the clear defeat, Funkel saw good approaches in his team. “Of course, the course of the game doesn’t reflect the 3-0 win. We did very well for long stretches. But we didn’t score, we hit the post and the crossbar three times, Joans Hector headed just wide and the first goal was unlucky , a player slips from us, “analyzed the coach Sky.

The CHECK24 one-two with Armin Veh and Urs Meier on Sunday from 11 a.m. on TV on SPORT1

However, Funkel also spoke about the clear deficits of his Cologne. “When we scored the second goal, we just acted stupid, so clearly you have to say it. We ran into a counterattack even though we knew they had very fast players,” he said.

“We have absolutely no reason to hang our heads after this game. What the team brought onto the pitch in terms of football was good, but the end result is 3-0. We’ll have to deal with that in the next few days,” said Funkel , who is challenged with 1. FC Köln on Tuesday against RB Leipzig.

Leverkusen up front early

Leon Bailey (5th) gave Bayer an early lead with a placed header. Moussa Diaby (51st) increased before Bailey (76th) made everything clear. With their second win in their third game under Wolf, which was on loan from the DFB until the end of the season, the Werkself with 47 points at least temporarily overtook Borussia Dortmund (46) to fifth. (Bundesliga table)

Cologne remains penultimate with 23 points for the ninth game in a row without a win. The gap to 16. Hertha BSC, whose upcoming games have been postponed due to complete corona isolation, is three points. Funkel inherited the dismissed Markus Gisdol on Monday and should save the Domstadters from relegation with his experience.

Funkels “great anticipation” for his comeback on the dugout after 447 days was quickly clouded: Diaby first let Jannes Horn slip into the open and served Bailey at the far post perfectly with his soulful flank.

Cologne with good chances

Leverkusen was then surprisingly pushed back and offered Cologne many rooms. First Marius Wolf (19th) slipped just past a cross in the penalty area, then FC captain Jonas Hector headed next to it (20th).

The Bundesliga highlights on Sunday from 9.30 a.m. in Bundesliga Pur on TV on SPORT1

Leverkusen, who had to do without young star Florian Wirtz (adductor problems) in midfield, looked unsettled. The FC remained dangerous. After Bayer captain Charles Aranguiz fouled Wolf, referee Sören Storks (Velen) decided on a penalty (35th), took it back after a brief consultation with the VAR and rightly gave a free kick because of contact outside the penalty area. Hector shot this powerfully against the crossbar (36th).

After the break, Hector narrowly missed his third big chance (48th), which took revenge. Bayer countered in the home arena, Bailey crossed Diaby, who netted the second chance for Leverkusen free-standing.

Test DAZN for free and experience the Bundesliga on demand | DISPLAY

The FC did not give up and were still the better team. Florian Kainz forced Lukas Hradecky to do a brilliant act (61st). Then Bailey struck again.

—————————————-

with sports information service (SID)

–