LEVERKUSEN, Germany (Interstat) — In a stunning Bundesliga upset that defied statistical projections, visiting FC Cologne defeated Bayer Leverkusen 4-3 in a chaotic and contentious match Sunday at BayArena.

The result, on Feb. 22, 2026, extended Cologne’s perfect start to the Bundesliga season to three wins from three matches, while Leverkusen’s domestic campaign continued to be one of inconsistency, now with 14 wins, nine losses and one draw.

The match was a tale of two halves, with a frantic opening 45 minutes giving way to a second half marred by discipline issues, particularly for the visitors. The game’s narrative was set early when Cologne striker Davie Selke opened the scoring in the 14th minute, finishing an assist from Florian Kainz. Leverkusen’s Amine Adli responded in the 28th minute, leveling the score off a pass from Moussa Diaby. Selke struck again before halftime, however, restoring Cologne’s lead in the 36th minute with Jan Thielmann providing the helper.

The first half concluded with the initial sign of the tension to come, as Cologne’s Thielmann received a yellow card in the 45th minute.

The second half saw the game erupt. Cologne extended its lead with two more goals, the details of which were not provided in the available information, to build a commanding 4-1 advantage. Leverkusen mounted a furious late comeback, scoring twice to close the gap to a single goal and set up a dramatic finish.

That drama was overshadowed by a remarkable loss of composure from the visiting side. In a span of just three minutes, from the 80th to the 83rd, officials issued five yellow cards. Cologne’s Davie Selke, Julian Chabot, Linton Maina and Benno Schmitz were all booked, with Leverkusen’s Adli also receiving a caution during that volatile period. In total, Cologne was shown six yellow cards, while Leverkusen received one.

The victory solidifies Cologne’s surprising early-season form. The club now holds a record of 4-0-0 across all competitions this season. For Leverkusen, the loss is another setback in a Bundesliga season of uneven results, despite a stronger overall record of 22-12-3 in all tournaments. The defeat comes just one day after a 1-0 loss at Union Berlin.

The match outcome stood in direct contrast to pregame analytics. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a low-scoring 1-0 victory for Cologne, while its ELO rating system gave Leverkusen a 91.5% probability to win.

Cologne will look to maintain its perfect record when it hosts Borussia Dortmund on March 1. Leverkusen, meanwhile, will attempt to regroup with a match against Mainz 05 II on Feb. 28.