The Rhine derby at the RheinEnergieStadion puts Said El Mala and Ibrahim Maza in the frame more than the clubs around them. El Mala has four goals in his first nine games in all competitions this season. Maza has three Bundesliga goals and two assists for Bayer Leverkusen in the league campaign.
El Mala's impact for Cologne
El Mala's output has come quickly. He has scored in 15 Bundesliga games for Cologne, and the team have lost only one of those matches. His 33 completed dribbles are second only to Michael Olise in the Bundesliga this season, which explains why he keeps drawing attention even when Cologne are not dominating the ball.
There is still roughness to it. El Mala succeeds with only 39 percent of his attempted take-ons, and he averages 17 completed passes per game, the lowest of any Cologne player. René Wagner said he is glad El Mala is at the club and called him "a top player for us" who leads by example and motivates everyone else.
Maza's role at Leverkusen
Maza has become a central figure for Leverkusen's attack without losing the all-round work that coaches value. He has started all eight of Leverkusen's Bundesliga matches this season, and his 111 duels won is the highest league total. The 43 direct shot involvements around him, along with 25 completed dribbles, show how often he is feeding and carrying attacks.
Carles Martínez said Maza is "an extremely talented player" who brings a lot and is always ready to improve. He also pointed to his ability to contribute both offensively and defensively, which fits the way Leverkusen have used him so far. For a derby that already has local weight, the more interesting layer is that both sides have a young attacker who is producing now, not later.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
