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Anthony Modeste met first to connect, then to equalize
Photo: MIKA VOLKMANN / imago images / Mika Volkmann
Bayer Leverkusen dropped points in the Rhine duel at 1. FC Köln. One week after the 1: 5 defeat against FC Bayern Munich, the team of coach Gerardo Seoane was only able to build on the strong form before the defeat against the record champions and only played 2: 2 (2: 0 ). Patrik Schick (15th minute) and Karim Bellarabi (17th) set the course for Leverkusen with their double strike initially for victory, Anthony Modeste gave Cologne's answer with two goals (63rd, 82nd).
The Cologne team also had to digest a high defeat, but the 0: 5 the previous week against TSG Hoffenheim was a much bigger surprise than the Leverkusen result.
Previously, the Cologne team had played an outstanding season under Steffen Baumgart, but then could not confirm the performance without captain Jonas Hector and the sixs Dejan Ljubicic and Ellyes Skhiri.
Against Bayer, Hector and Ljubicic returned to the starting line-up, Skhiri will be out injured for a longer period of time.
The Cologne team did not defend noticeably more stable at first: Schick completed a Leverkusen counterattack for an early lead (15th), Bellarabi only two minutes later (17th).
Jeremie Frimpong missed the 3-0 shot with a crossbar, the advancing right-back had overlooked the Schick who had run with him in a promising position (25th).
Modeste brings Cologne back
Cologne then found their way into the game, a long-range shot from Hector steered Leverkusen's goalkeeper Lukáš Hrádecký around the post (33.).
Because they did not play their numerous counterattacks precisely enough, the Leverkusen team did not manage to decide the game early on.
Cologne came up again when Modeste took a flank from the far post and made the connection with a low shot (63.).
With his sixth goal of the season, a header from close range, the Frenchman also hit the final score (83rd).
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