Berlin: Bayer Leverkusen tightened their grip on the top of the Bundesliga with a 2-0 win over Cologne 10-10 to move 10 points clear of Bayern Munich.
Xabi Alonso’s side had a chance to extend their lead over Bayern after the series champions failed again, earning a 2-2 draw at Freiburg on Friday night.
Leverkusen, who have a German record of 34 games unbeaten in all competitions, arrived in Cologne on Sunday. They lost the deserved winner of an intense Rhine derby, despite the energetic effort of the Bundesliga fighters who played with 10 men. already in the 15th minute.
The match opened in the 38th minute through Alejandro Grimaldo. His low cross from the left was collected through Patrik Schick and stabbed from close range through Jérémie Frimpong, for his eighth league goal of the season.
Grimaldo sorted things out in the 73rd minute, pushing the ball close to the post after smart paints affected replacement Amine Adli.
Striker Jan Thielmann was shown a straight red card in the 15th minute after hitting Granit Xhaka’s Achilles tendon with his cleats.
The resolution raised the temperature at the RheinEnergieStadion, where referee Tobias Stieler faced a Cologne team and 40,000 rebellious fans in the early spring sun.
Cologne, who are in the relegation play-offs and 8 points behind the team, adapted well after the red card and were unlucky to hit the post twice.
But Leverkusen controlled much of the festival as they cruised to their first Bundesliga title.