The China Mail - Terrific Terrier returns Leverkusen to fourth

Terrier's no-look backheel put Leverkusen in front after 66 minutes, with home captain Robert Andrich heading in from a corner shortly after.

The 2023-24 champions had fallen to sixth after Hoffenheim and Eintracht Frankfurt won earlier on Saturday but will finish the weekend in the top four.

The derby between the Rhine neighbours had an uneasy atmosphere. Hundreds of ultras from both sides boycotted the match, with a Cologne fan group complaining of "inappropriate" and "very intense" police checks, according to German sports magazine Kicker.

Just after halftime, Malik Tillman had a golden chance to put Leverkusen in front when one-on-one with Cologne goalie Marvin Schwaebe but blasted over the bar.

The hosts broke through in spectacular fashion when Terrier somehow connected with a misplaced pass, looping it over the 'keeper.

Andrich's header gave the hosts breathing space, putting Leverkusen on track for victory.

Earlier on Saturday, a brilliant solo goal from Ritsu Doan took Eintracht Frankfurt to a hard-fought 1-0 home win over Augsburg.

The victory sent Frankfurt, who have struggled to manage domestic and European commitments this season in just their second Champions League campaign, into sixth.

"You can see we lack a bit of freshness," Frankfurt coach Dino Toppmoeller told reporters, adding: "The last six months have been very stressful.

"Today's performance was one driven by great willpower."

Augsburg had two strikes chalked off by VAR early against a shaky Frankfurt defence who had conceded 15 goals in their past five games.

Midway through the second-half, Japan international Doan weaved through four Augsburg defenders before hitting a deflected shot past Finn Dahmen.

Augsburg's American defender Noahkai Banks looked to have levelled things up in the 87th minute but his goal was struck off for a narrow offside.

Elsewhere, Hoffenheim stayed fifth thanks to a commanding 4-1 home win over Hamburg, their sixth victory in their past eight league games.

Goals from Grischa Proemel, Ozan Kabak, Tim Lemperle and Fisnik Asllani took Hoffenheim to victory, while Hamburg's Rayan Philippe scored a late consolation goal before missing a stoppage time penalty.

Christian Eriksen sparked Wolfsburg to a 3-1 win away at Borussia Moenchengladbach to continue the Wolves' recent resurgence.

The former Manchester United and Tottenham midfielder guided in an expert cross which led to a Mohammed Amoura goal and created Patrick Wimmer's second with a no-look pass inside four minutes midway through the first half.

Dangling near the relegation spots for much of the season, Wolfsburg have claimed seven points in their last three matches to climb to 13th.

St Pauli won for the first time since September with a 2-1 home victory over Heidenheim, despite going down to 10 men just before halftime.

C.Smith--ThChM