Bundesliga Preview | FC Köln vs Bayer Leverkusen: A derby with consequences

Bundesliga Preview | FC Köln vs Bayer Leverkusen: A derby with consequences

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.”