A Rhine Derby between FC Köln and Bayer Leverkusen is often fearlessly contested, but perhaps not as much as this Saturday’s match in the Bundesliga. With Köln fighting for survival and Leverkusen pushing for Europe, this feels like a derby that could have big consequences for each team’s season. Can Köln push further away from the drop, or will Leverkusen keep the pressure on the Champions League spaces? Here’s everything you need to know ahead of FC Köln vs Bayer Leverkusen.
FC Köln
Heading into this derby, the Billygoats are currently unbeaten in their last five Bundesliga matches – their best streak so far this season. For that reason, Köln sit five points above automatic relegation in 12th position. Whilst on paper this looks like a healthy gap, Köln are one of four teams currently on 31 points, with Köln just on top due to goal difference. All it takes is one loss, a couple of results from other clubs, and Köln are once again sitting just outside the relegation spots.
Head coach René Wagner is finally getting a tune out of his players and are showing the signs that they have what it takes to grind out results. Having gathered four points from Werder Bremen and St. Pauli in recent weeks, Köln will fancy their chances to get over the line with four games to play. However, a derby match is always different, particularly when it’s against Bayer Leverkusen.
In his pre-match press conference, Wagner talked tactics as he hopes to expose Leverkusen’s tiredness due to their DFB Pokal match in the week.
“Leverkusen will hopefully have problems with our intensity. We want to make the Leverkusen players do some hard running. We have a good plan for Saturday, want to implement it, and will hopefully be rewarded for it in the end.”
Bayer Leverkusen
It’s been a disappointing week for Bayer Leverkusen. Having lost 1-2 to FC Augsburg in the Bundesliga last weekend, B04 then suffered a 0-2 loss to Bayern Munich during the week in the DFB Pokal.
The midweek match did little to fill B04 fans with hope. They were completely played off the park by Bayern, who didn’t really have to work all too hard to carve Leverkusen open. There will be question marks surrounding the future of head coach Kasper Hjulmand, particularly if he fails to get Champions League football for next season. The club has already confirmed that talks will occur this summer regarding Hjulmand’s future.
In terms of the race for the Champions League, B04 are currently in 6th position and four points off VfB Stuttgart in 4th. A derby day win this weekend will not only keep the pace for the chasing pack but should also give the club a morale boost heading into the final three matchdays. Within their last three matches, Leverkusen will play fellow table-rivals Stuttgart and RB Leipzig – two games that will ultimately decide Leverkusen’s season.
Team News
FC Köln
No fresh injury concerns for the Billygoats. Defenders Timo Hubers and Luca Kilian both remain out and will most likely not feature again this season. Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and Cenk Ozakacar were the centreback partnership last weekend and will most likely be the duo that starts against Leverkusen.
Bayer Leverkusen
Leverkusen’s only injury concern heading into the derby is striker Christian Kofane, who is currently nursing a thigh injury. Regardless, it will be Patrik Schick who leads the line for B04 on Saturday. The Czech has scored four goals in his last four Bundesliga matches.
GGFN | Jamie Allen
