1.FC Köln – Bayer Leverkusen
The Bundesliga continues to progress and there are some exciting games again this weekend. The 24th matchday has plenty of excitement in store. The Rhineland derby between 1. FC Köln and Bayer Leverkusen takes place on Sunday. Two clubs whose starting positions could not be more different, because while Cologne are fighting to stay in League One, Leverkusen are on the verge of finally shedding their nickname as “Vizekusen”. You can find out who will win this clash and who will come away empty-handed in our Cologne – Leverkusen betting tip.
Despite an improved performance compared to the first half of the season, Cologne are still at the bottom of the table. Last weekend, they fought out a 1-1 draw at Champions League aspirants Stuttgart, but FC urgently need a three-pointer to stay in contention for the drop.
Leverkusen continue to march ahead and won again last weekend. The 2:1 win against Mainz was a work in progress, but showed that Leverkusen can also pick up points against unpleasant underdogs. Cologne are the next relegation candidates fighting for survival on the program
Cologne – Leverkusen info
- Date & Time: 03.03.2024, 15:30 hrs.
- Playing venue: RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne
- Competition: Bundesliga, Matchday 24
Cologne Form & Balance Check
After Cologne pulled the ripcord in the winter break and coach Steffen Baumgart had to go, Timo Schultz has now been on the sidelines for seven games. Under the new coach, the team’s record is two defeats, four draws and just one win. The beginnings can be seen, but FC are not managing to win close games in the end and thus pick up the points they need to stay in the league.
Overall, the Billy Goats are currently 16th in the table with 17 points, eight points behind Bochum and Union Berlin in the two places above them. Cologne do not have much time left to get back on the winning track and leave the relegation places in time. With Leverkusen and Gladbach, two hot derbies in a row are on the program
Hopeful players not yet returning
Despite Cologne’s difficult starting camp, the imminent return of the trio of Davie Selke, Luca Waldschmidt and Mark Uth in Cologne gives hope. All three have been out of action in recent weeks and even months due to injuries. Only Selke is likely to be available again against Leverkusen for the time being, but Luca Waldschmidt is also back in training after breaking his fibula. Against Leverkusen, however, coach Schultz will have to continue to try and compensate for the absence of Waldschmidt and Uth
Cologne facts & analysis
- 16th place in the table
- Last game draw
- First win this year
Leverkusen Form & Balance Check
Leverkusen’s record this season remains simply outstanding. In their latest win against Mainz, the Werkself celebrated their 5th win in a row and remain unbeaten this season. Everything looks set for Bayer’s first league title, but coach Xabi Alonso’s team are not there yet.
They have an eight-point lead over Munich, and even though no team in the history of the Bundesliga has ever lost such a big lead at this stage of the season, they are determined not to stumble at any cost
Wirtz likely to stay with Bayer for longer
The father and advisor of Florian Wirtz revealed in an interview this week that his son plans to fulfill his contract until 2027 and thus remain with the Werkself for a few more years. The 20-year-old super talent is undoubtedly being courted by the top clubs in Europe and will certainly already have one or two offers on the table.
The playmaker is playing extremely well this season and has played a major part in Leverkusen’s success. In 23 league games, he has scored five goals and also assisted ten goals. He wants to help his team to another victory against Cologne to open the door to the championship a little further
Leverkusen facts & analysis
- First place in the table
- Last game won
- Still without defeat this season
Cologne will play in a 4-2-3-1 and we expect Timo Hübers to return to the defense after illness compared to the last game against Stuttgart. Selke could return to the starting line-up in attack. Justin Diehl would rotate onto the bench in his place.
We also expect only a few changes at Bayer compared to the win against Mainz. In the 3-4-2-1 system, the defense around Odilon Kossounou, Jonathan Tah and Edmond Tapsoba will remain unchanged. In midfield, Jonas Hofmann could make way for the Spaniard Borja Iglesias. Exequiel Palacios could be back in the squad after his injury, but it won’t be enough for the starting eleven
Cologne – Leverkusen head-to-head & stats
This will be the 75th clash between Cologne and Leverkusen this Sunday. The Billy Goats have won 19 of those games, while Bayer have come away victorious 30 times. If we look at the last five meetings between the two, we see an even balance, with two wins for each team and one draw. The very first meeting took place in 1972. In the League Cup clash at the time, Cologne won 6:2.
Direct comparison (H2H)
