ShareBayer Leverkusen edged Rhine derby rivals Koln 2-1 on Saturday, thanks to a standout performance from striker Patrik Schick.Patrik Schick played a starring role as Bayer Leverkusen boosted their Champions League hopes with a 2-1 win over rivals Koln at the RheinEnergieSTADION.With the race for a fourth-place finish in the Bundesliga heating up, with Stuttgart and Hoffenheim offering stiff competition, the pressure was on Kasper Hjulmand's side ahead of Saturday's Rhine derby.And they began in strong fashion as Schick provided a teaser of what was to come with a long-range effort that struck the outside of the post after just 13 minutes. Leverkusen were then awarded a penalty four minutes before the break when Eric Martel handled the ball in the box, with the referee's decision upheld after a VAR review. And Schick made no mistake from 12 yards out, powering a cool penalty into the bottom left corner to beat Marvin Schwabe. Koln responded well after the break, with Said El Mala and Jakub Kaminski testing Janis Blaswich, but Schick doubled the lead seven minutes into the second half, drilling Nathan Tella's centre into the bottom corner.Koln teased a late comeback as El Mala led a swift counter-attack before finding Luca Waldschmidt, whose left-footed effort beat Blaswich down the middle, though Leverkusen were able to hold on for all three points. Data Debrief: Schick extends Leverkusen's hot streak Leverkusen have now scored in their last nine Bundesliga games – their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of 13 between April and October 2025. And on this occasion, it was Schick who played a decisive role. He has scored 13 goals in the league this season – more than any other Werkself player. Leverkusen, though, might consider themselves slightly fortunate to have taken all three points as they produced 1.33 expected goals (xG), well below Koln's 2.64 xG. Bayer Leverkusen edged Rhine derby rivals Koln 2-1 on Saturday, thanks to a standout performance from striker Patrik Schick.Patrik Schick played a starring role as Bayer Leverkusen boosted their Champions League hopes with a 2-1 win over rivals Koln at the RheinEnergieSTADION.With the race for a fourth-place finish in the Bundesliga heating up, with Stuttgart and Hoffenheim offering stiff competition, the pressure was on Kasper Hjulmand's side ahead of Saturday's Rhine derby.And they began in strong fashion as Schick provided a teaser of what was to come with a long-range effort that struck the outside of the post after just 13 minutes. Leverkusen were then awarded a penalty four minutes before the break when Eric Martel handled the ball in the box, with the referee's decision upheld after a VAR review. And Schick made no mistake from 12 yards out, powering a cool penalty into the bottom left corner to beat Marvin Schwabe. Koln responded well after the break, with Said El Mala and Jakub Kaminski testing Janis Blaswich, but Schick doubled the lead seven minutes into the second half, drilling Nathan Tella's centre into the bottom corner.Koln teased a late comeback as El Mala led a swift counter-attack before finding Luca Waldschmidt, whose left-footed effort beat Blaswich down the middle, though Leverkusen were able to hold on for all three points. Data Debrief: Schick extends Leverkusen's hot streak Leverkusen have now scored in their last nine Bundesliga games – their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of 13 between April and October 2025. And on this occasion, it was Schick who played a decisive role. He has scored 13 goals in the league this season – more than any other Werkself player. Leverkusen, though, might consider themselves slightly fortunate to have taken all three points as they produced 1.33 expected goals (xG), well below Koln's 2.64 xG.