Aleix García Propels Leverkusen With Free-Kick Goal in Rhine Derby

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents Aleix García Propels Leverkusen With Free-Kick Goal in Rhine Derby.

Aleix García put Bayer Leverkusen ahead early in the Rhine Derby against 1. FC Köln: the Spaniard scored in the 7th minute from a free kick. Leverkusen won the match on Sunday 2-1 and are back in fifth place in the table after the 9th matchday.

The goal by the former Girona player not only gave Leverkusen the early lead but also kicked off a match in which the hosts initially had further opportunities to build a bigger advantage, only adding their second goal in the 80th minute. Köln managed to pull one back in stoppage time in the 92nd minute, when Said El Mala finished off a pass from his brother Malek.

García's Seventh-Minute Free Kick Gets Leverkusen Back on Track

The situation was clear for Leverkusen: coach Carles Martínez Novell's team had suffered three defeats in its previous four matches and was outside the European places before the derby. In precisely this situation, Aleix García scored from a free kick in the 7th minute. It was the first goal of the match and gave Leverkusen the foundation for the win.

The early lead alone was not enough to decide the match. Leverkusen had further opportunities at the BayArena to extend their advantage. Munich? No, the match was against 1. FC Köln. Köln kept the ball and continued to search for an equalizer, while Leverkusen did not immediately convert their chances into further goals.

Only in the 80th minute did the decisive second move come: Patrik Schick scored to make it 2-0, with Ibrahim Maza providing the assist. Leverkusen had established the advantage they ultimately held over Köln by one goal.

Schick Turns the Lead Into a Deserved Win

Patrik Schick's goal in the 80th minute was Leverkusen's second strike of the evening. After García's opening goal, the team had sought further opportunities in the spaces between the goals, but it was Schick who turned the narrow lead into a comfortable advantage. Ibrahim Maza's assist was the decisive pass that made Schick's goal possible.

With the score 2-0, the outcome of the derby was effectively decided. Köln did manage to reduce the deficit to 2-1 in the 92nd minute. Said El Mala scored after a pass from his brother Malek. The Köln players therefore scored late, but there was ultimately not enough time for a second equalizer.

For Leverkusen, this victory means more than just another win. After three defeats in their last four matches, the team has responded convincingly in the head-to-head clash against Köln. The result takes them back to fifth in the Bundesliga.

The Rhine Derby Ends With Köln Pointless for the Sixth Consecutive Time

The Köln players must view the result from another perspective: after the 2-1 defeat, they have now failed to win a Rhine Derby for the sixth consecutive time. The stoppage-time goal did nothing to change that streak. Leverkusen, by contrast, were able to use their win against their direct rivals to move back up the table.

The course of the match explains why the derby was anything but neutral for both sides. Leverkusen came under pressure following three defeats in their last four matches and needed a win to move back toward the European places. Köln initially had the opportunity to keep the game open after falling behind early but were pushed back by Schick's goal in the 80th minute. El Mala's late goal arrived only when the match was effectively decided.

What the Sources Confirm

The key information comes from the report by Mundo Deportivo Fútbol. The source was updated on 08/11/2026 at 18:55 CET. It states that García scored the first goal in the Rhine Derby against Köln on Sunday, Leverkusen won the match 2-1 and were in fifth place after the 9th matchday.

The report also provides the decisive details: minute seven for García's free kick, minute 80 for Schick's second goal following Maza's assist, and minute 92 for El Mala's reply after a pass from Malek. The source contains no further information about the lineup, other chances or the table positions of the other Bundesliga teams. The focus on this match therefore remains on three numbers: the early 1-0, the 2-0 in the 80th minute and the 2-1 final score after matchday nine.