The Frankfurter Rundschau use those words for their headline on the 65th derby. The report continues: "Bayer Leverkusen easily dealt with FC Köln ahead of the clash with FC Bayern.[...] special wins even have to be celebrated in empty stadiums: At the end of their masterful performance in the biggest derby away win, the Bayer Leverkusen players celebrated loudly in front of the empty away end."
One reason for this celebration were the goals from two former Köln players. Mitchell Weiser, initially due to be on the bench, was a late stand-in for Lars Bender (precautionary measure due to thigh problem) – and eight minutes later he scored the opener. The Bild describes the opening goal: "The former Köln player volleyed the ball into the net from ten metres out. Weiser of all people!"
After the second goal from Moussa Diaby (10’) and the third from Patrik Schick (55’), another former FC Köln player struck. With 59 minutes on the clock, Florian Wirtz gave "Horn no chance. A debacle for FC. And more than sweet revenge for the bitter derby defeat a year ago for Bayer." Finally, the Bild reports: "Leverkusen are warming up for the top match on Saturday against Bayern."
In their headline, the Rheinische Post opts for the words "Bayer overrun Köln". The newspaper also looks at the concept of a derby. Their wording: "Nobody at FC wanted to talk about a real derby in the build-up. The word was avoided where possible. Clashes against Mönchengladbach or Düsseldorf might deserve that description but the game against Leverkusen? But everybody interested in football away from the cathedral city would say of course. But the demonstrative failure to take the rivals from the other side of the Rhine seriously is part of Cologne folklore. That has probably driven by jealousy as the Werkself are top of the table while FC have to worry about relegation – once again. Nothing changed after the game as Leverkusen deservedly won by a 4-0 margin at the neighbours."
The Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger talks about Köln having had "no chance" and the Werkself being "vastly superior". The FC goalkeeper Timo Horn adopts a similar view as he is quoted in the paper: "' Leverkusen overrun us from the first minute. We didn't stand a chance today.'" Midfield dynamo Nadiem Amiri was given the top mark, Leon Bailey and Diaby each got a "1.5". All the other outfield players received an impressive "2".
The Süddeutsche Zeitung refers to the forthcoming festive season in their report ("Four for the Christmas tree"): "Leverkusen played so quickly and so well that he could easily imagine a Christmas bauble from the Bayer fan shop being hung on a Christmas tree somewhere in Cologne."
The sports journal kicker talks about the "great confidence" that Bayer 04 can now take into the top match against second-placed Bayern Munich. The game is at the BayArena on Saturday, 19 December (kick-off: 18.30 CET). The kicker declares: "The next package can be unwrapped on Saturday in the top match against Bayern."
Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month.
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Kasper Hjulmand has led the Werkself back to winning ways and is back in the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League with Bayer 04 after the 3-0 win against Villarreal on Wednesday evening. In an interview with the Werkself magazine at the BayArena in the team meeting room, directly opposite the dressing room, he provided some special insights for the current issue, which was published in January. A conversation with the 53-year-old coach about values, attitudes and personal experiences as well as interests outside of football.
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The thrilling 3-1 win for Bayer 04 against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Hinrunde is a fond memory for Alejandro Grimaldo, with his brace from free kicks, and coach Kasper Hjulmand, who was in the dugout under the Cross for the first time. Now comes the return fixture in the metropolis on the River Main and after going out of the DFB Pokal and the Champions League, the full focus at Eintracht, currently managed by two interim coaches, is now on the Bundesliga. For their part, the Werkself will do everything in their power to continue the longest winning run against a Bundesliga club. The matchday news.
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Bayer 04 have ended Artem Stepanov’s loan deal at Nürnberg and agreed a new loan to Utrecht in the Netherlands. The Ukrainian striker did not play as much as hoped for at the Bundesliga 2 club and will now continue his development in the Eredivisie for the rest of 2025/26.
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The draw for the knockout play-offs of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League was made on Friday, 30 January and saw Bayer 04 paired with Olympiacos. It’s a reunion with the Greek side following the Werkself’s 2-0 loss in Athens on Matchday 7 of the league phase.
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