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Bayer Leverkusen – 1. FC Köln
This weekend is already the 31st matchday in the Bundesliga. On this matchday, as an exception, two games will take place on Friday evening. This was last the case in the 1999/2000 season, 23 years ago. The reason for this is Bayer Leverkusen’s upcoming Europa League semifinal against AS Roma. In order to have more rest before this match, the Werkself made a request to bring the match against Cologne forward to Friday. From a sporting point of view, this postponement should be anything but convenient for the Geißböcken. The cathedral cities lost the last six Friday games in the Bundesliga and had a subterranean goal ratio of 1:18. Recently, however, things have been much better again for FC in the league. Before the defeat against Freiburg last weekend, Cologne remained four games without defeat.
On the other hand, Leverkusen’s upcoming opponents have already gone nine games without defeat in the league. Thanks to this outstanding form, the Werkself climbed to sixth place and even still has a chance of qualifying for the Champions League. The fact that it is against a Rhineland rival on Friday should give Bayer 04 additional motivation. The Werkself has won every game against the Bundesliga teams from the Rhineland, i.e. Gladbach and Cologne, so far this season. Whether this impressive series of the Werkself will continue, you can find out in our Leverkusen against Cologne tip.
Leverkusen – Cologne info:
- Date & Time: 05.05.2023, 20:30 hrs.
- Game venue: BayArena, Leverkusen
- Competition: Bundesliga, 31. matchday
- TV broadcast: DAZN
Leverkusen form & balance check
This season, coach Xabi Alonso gave Bayer 04 Leverkusen a new dynamic. Under the leadership of former coach Gerardo Seoane, the Werkself started the season surprisingly poorly, finishing only 17th in the league after eight matchdays. Leverkusen improved continuously over the course of the season and thus climbed higher and higher in the table.
Currently, Bayer 04 has gone 14 games without defeat. The last time Leverkusen achieved such a streak was in the 2009/2010 season, when the coach was still Jupp Heynckes. In addition, the Werkself recently eliminated Royal Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League after their victories in Monaco and Budapest and thus reached the semifinals.
Alonso is in demand
Under Bayerkreuz is currently showing an established system under the tactical leadership of coach Xabi Alonso. Bayer uses aggressive counterattacks to exploit the speed of its attackers and thus regularly provide plenty of scoring danger. The Werkself has the fifth-best offense in the Bundesliga with a total of 53 goals.
The Spanish coach, who previously coached Real Sociedad’s second team, led his team from the bottom of the table to the European places this season. This performance is already arousing covetousness from other teams. Alonso is reportedly on the books of Real Madrid, where he was a player from 2009 to 2014.
Leverkusen facts & analysis
- 14 competitive games without defeat.
- Currently in sixth place in the league
- In the semi-finals of the Europa League
Cologne form & balance check
This season, Cologne is showing a very different performance. This season started well for the Geißböcke, but they slowly collapsed more and more. In the meantime, FC recorded six winless games in the second half of the season, dropping them to 13th place in the table.
Cologne’s form improved significantly, however, and the away wins against Augsburg and Hoffenheim in particular allowed the Geißböcke’s fans to breathe a sigh of relief. Despite losing to Freiburg the previous week, Cologne now has a seven-point lead over VfL Bochum and thus seems capable of avoiding relegation to the 2nd Bundesliga.
Storm lull in Müngersdorf
In the match in Freiburg, FC once again remained without a goal of their own. Before that, however, the Geißböcke managed to score in three Bundesliga games in a row. However, that is anything but a matter of course for the billy goats this season.
1. FC Köln has already gone 13 times without scoring a goal of its own this season. This lack of penetrating power also has to do with Cologne’s problems in the center of attack. With five goals, Steffen Tigges is the most successful center forward for the Cathedral City team so far this season. Adamyan, Selke and Dietz, who also play up top for FC, have only scored four goals together so far.
Cologne facts & analysis
- Currently in 11th place in the league.
- Only three wins in the second half of the season
- First three away wins this season
Predicted lineup – last update on May 3, 2023
We expect Leverkusen to be back in their usual formation. After Xabi Alonso lined up center back Edmond Tapsoba in central midfield against Union, we expect a slightly more offensive alignment again against Köln.
Cologne will once again play in a 4-2-3-1. Davie Selke has recently established himself in the attacking center and will be looking to add his fourth goal of the season against the Werkself. Eric Martel will be missing from Cologne on Friday in Leverkusen with a yellow suspension.
Leverkusen – Cologne direct comparison & statistics
Leverkusen have won 34 of their previous 88 Rhineland duels with 1. FC Köln. The Cathedral City team, on the other hand, has only defeated the Werkself 24 times. Bayer Leverkusen also prevailed in the first leg. In early November, the Werkself won 2-1 at the RheinEnergieSTADION with goals from Diaby and Amiri.
- Köln won only one of last six games against Leverkusen.
- When Leverkusen leads 1-0 in home games, they win 82% of matches.
- Leverkusen wins 36% of halves, Cologne wins 28
- Did you know that Cologne scores 23% of their goals between the 76-90 minute?
