Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2-0 FC Köln: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Bwin’s post-match review of Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2-0 FC Köln in the Bundesliga on Saturday, 13 December 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen secured a 2-0 victory over FC Köln. The first half ended goalless, with both sides creating chances but failing to convert, as FC Köln’s early yellow card to Eric Martel in the 5th minute disrupted their rhythm slightly. Bayer 04 Leverkusen, coming off a mixed run with wins against VfL Wolfsburg and Heidenheim but losses to FC Augsburg and Borussia Dortmund, looked to build on their home form.

The breakthrough came in the 66th minute when Martin Terrier scored, assisted by Arthur, shortly after substitutions saw Nathan Tella replace Ernest Poku and Martin Terrier replace Jonas Hofmann. Robert Andrich added a second in the 72nd, assisted by Aleix García, sealing the win despite yellow cards for Arthur in the 51st and Jarell Quansah in the 74th. FC Köln, who had drawn their last two matches against St. Pauli and Werder Bremen but lost to Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Mönchengladbach before that, made triple changes at half-time but could not turn the tide.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen dominated possession with 61% compared to FC Köln’s 39%, which allowed them to control the game’s tempo and create more opportunities, as shown by their 8 corners against 3. Their edge in successful dribbles, 40 to 25, highlighted a more dynamic attack, while recording 2 assists underlined their efficiency in the final third without any penalties taken by either side. Discipline saw Bayer 04 Leverkusen pick up 2 yellow cards and FC Köln 1, with no reds or injury-time goals, and both teams using all 5 substitutions to try shifting momentum.

Substitutions played a key role, with Bayer 04 Leverkusen bringing on Nathan Tella for Ernest Poku and Martin Terrier for Jonas Hofmann at 62’, Loïc Badé for Aleix García and Alejo Sarco for Christian Kofane at 77’, and Jeanuël Belocian for Malik Tillman at 86’. FC Köln responded with Linton Maina for Luca Waldschmidt, Ragnar Ache for Marius Bülter, and Cenk Özkacar for Denis Huseinbasic at 46’, Kristoffer Lund for Said El Mala at 73’, and Ísak Jóhannesson for Eric Martel at 80’.

The match turned in the second half with Martin Terrier’s goal in the 66th minute, assisted by Arthur, giving Bayer 04 Leverkusen the lead after their double substitution at 62’ where Nathan Tella came on for Ernest Poku and Martin Terrier for Jonas Hofmann. Robert Andrich extended the advantage in the 72nd, assisted by Aleix García, effectively putting the game out of reach for FC Köln. Yellow cards added tension, with Eric Martel booked early for FC Köln in the 5th, Arthur for Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the 51st, and Jarell Quansah in the 74th, while FC Köln’s half-time triple changes failed to spark a comeback.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen lined up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, which provided solid defensive structure while allowing midfielders like Robert Andrich and Aleix García to push forward and contribute assists. Key partnerships shone through, such as Arthur assisting Martin Terrier’s goal, with substitutions like Loïc Badé replacing Aleix García and Alejo Sarco for Christian Kofane adding fresh legs in the latter stages. Players like Malik Tillman held the attack until Jeanuël Belocian came on late.

FC Köln set up in a 3-4-3 shape, aiming for width and counter-attacks, but early disruption came from Eric Martel’s yellow card. Substitutions were key, with Linton Maina replacing Luca Waldschmidt, Ragnar Ache for Marius Bülter, and Cenk Özkacar for Denis Huseinbasic at half-time to inject energy. Later changes saw Kristoffer Lund come on for Said El Mala and Ísak Jóhannesson for Eric Martel, though they could not break through.

Robert Andrich is Bwin’s Man of the Match after scoring 1 goal without any assists, big chances created, or key passes, but his timely strike in the 72nd minute proved decisive in securing the win for Bayer 04 Leverkusen.

Recent Bundesliga matches:

• Win: 2-0 vs FC Köln (H)
• Loss: 0-2 vs FC Augsburg (A)
• Loss: 1-2 vs Borussia Dortmund (H)
• Win: 3-1 vs VfL Wolfsburg (A)
• Win: 6-0 vs Heidenheim (H)

Recent Bundesliga matches:

• Loss: 0-2 vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen (A)
• Draw: 1-1 vs St. Pauli (H)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Werder Bremen (A)
• Loss: 3-4 vs Eintracht Frankfurt (H)
• Loss: 1-3 vs Borussia Mönchengladbach (A)

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have just beaten FC Köln 2-0, moving them to 4th place on 26 points after a run that includes wins over Heidenheim and VfL Wolfsburg but recent losses to Borussia Dortmund and FC Augsburg. Their next match is against RB Leipzig on 2025-12-20 at 17:30, with the opposition currently 2nd on 29 points. This fixture offers a chance to close the gap at the top and build momentum in the chase for European spots.

FC Köln have just lost 2-0 to Bayer 04 Leverkusen, leaving them 10th on 16 points following draws with St. Pauli and Werder Bremen but defeats to Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Mönchengladbach. Their next match is against FC Union Berlin on 2025-12-20 at 14:30, with the opposition currently 8th on 18 points. A positive result could help them climb the mid-table and distance themselves from any relegation concerns.

Bwin brings you the most exciting betting promotions and the latest betting offers to enhance your experience.

For the best Bundesliga outright predictions, explore our Outright Betting guide.

Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.