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."
Assistant coach Remzi Kahraman is leaving the Bayer 04 Women’s team with immediate effect to take up a new challenge abroad. The club has agreed to the 31-year-old’s request to leave, although his contract was originally due to run until 2027. A decision on his successor will be announced shortly.
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At the U19 European Championship in Wales, the Germany U19 national team lost their third and final group match 4-0 to Spain. Several regulars, including Bayer 04 players Montrell Culbreath and Francis Onyeka (on loan to SV Elversberg), who had combined for four goals and assists in the two previous victories, did not feature,. Germany had already secured their place in the semi-finals with a game to spare.
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The FIFA World Cup 2026 in the USA, Canada and Mexico is underway. A total of eight Leverkusen players are taking part in the 23rd World Cup, with 48 teams in the tournament for the first time. Bayer04.de brings you all the latest from Werkself players at the World Cup.
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At the end of June, Bayer 04 became the first team in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga to begin their pre-season preparations. As well as training sessions at the Kurtekotten facility, the players under coach Roberto Pätzold completed the customary series of performance diagnostics. Werkself-TV presents exclusive insights and player interviews from the first few days after the summer break.
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