Back
5.05.2023Bayer 04

Matchday news in brief #B04KOE: Nowotny on Werkself Radio

Derby day at the BayArena: A week after the goalless draw at Union Berlin, the Werkself entertain FC Köln today Friday 5 May (kick-off: 20.30 CEST/stadium opens: 18.30 CEST). The latest information on the game on Bundesliga matchday 31…
crop_imago1010857640h.jpg

#B04KOE - match facts

Following the goalless draw against Union Berlin, the Werkself are now unbeaten in 14 games in succession (ten wins, four draws) – that last happened between September and December in 2017 (also 14 games).

FC Köln have often failed to gain a result against the Werkself in this century: The team from Cologne have only suffered more Bundesliga defeats against Bayern Munich (21) than they have against Bayer 04 (18). Over the same timescale, FC Köln have only lost more Bundesliga away games against Borussia Dortmund (11) than against the Werkself (10, as with Wolfsburg and Borussia Mönchengladbach).

Focus on cologne team

FC Köln lost at the weekend after a run of four games without defeat. However, the Cologne team produced another convincing performance in the 1-0 home defeat against SC Freiburg. "It's difficult to find the right words when you have such a good game and then end up losing," said FC Köln coach Steffen Baumgart. "The lads gave their all. It's great to see that we're back on track." They came off that track from the middle of February to the beginning of April. FC Köln went six games without a win (four defeats, two draws) and only scored one goal in that run of fixtures with a goal difference of 1 for and 13 against that saw them slip down to thirteenth in the table. The latest on personnel, performers and problems for the team from Cologne can be found in our lowdown on the next opponents.

early arrival recommended 

Bayer 04 requests everybody to arrive at the BayArena in good time to allow fans to get to their seats in time for kick-off and to avoid long queues at the turnstiles.

WERKSELF LIVE

Anyone wanting to read the key facts and stats about the derby before the game should take a look at the new Werkself LIVE. The matchday magazine is available at the BayArena and the digital version is also available free of charge online. HERE is the e-paper.

Werkself_Live_B04KOE.jpg

Zwayer is the ref

The German Football Association (DFB) have appointed Felix Zwayer as the match referee. The 41-year-old match official has previously been in charge of 29 games involving the Werkself (15 wins, six draws, eight defeats). His assistant referees are Marco Achmüller and Robert Wessel with Dr. Felix Brych in action as the VAR official.

Nowotny on WERKSELF Radio

As usual, Werkself Radio is available for anybody unable to be at today's game. The audio broadcast begins 30 minutes before kick-off with commentary provided by Cedric Pick und Niko Hartmann plus Jens Nowotny. So, tune in.

In addition, the live text update service will keep you up-to-date to ensure you don't miss any of the key match action. Both Werkself Radio and the live text update service are available at bayer04.de and on the Bayer 04 app – just log in.

Related News

Bayer 04 gegen den VfB Stuttgart
Bundesliga - 08.12.2025

Tickets for the home match against VfB Stuttgart

The Werkself will host VfB Stuttgart at the BayArena on matchday 16 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The game is on Saturday, 10 January, at 18:30 CET. Information on ticket sales.

Show more
Bayer 04 gegen den SV Werder Bremen
Bundesliga - 08.12.2025

Tickets for the home match against Werder Bremen

The Werkself will host Werder Bremen at the BayArena on matchday 19 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The game is on Saturday, 24 January, at 15:30 CET. Information on ticket sales.

Show more
Simon Rolfes
U19 - 08.12.2025

Rolfes on historic Youth League opportunity: ‘I have every confidence in the lads’

In the sixth and final match of the league phase of the UEFA Youth League 2025/26, the Bayer 04 U19s have a great opportunity to advance to the knockout phase of Europe’s most prestigious youth competition for the first time. To achieve that under their own steam, they will need a win against Newcastle United at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Wednesday, 10 December (kick-off: 14:00 CET/ free admission). In an interview with bayer04.de, managing director sport Simon Rolfes analyses the team's performances so far and their special situation. And the 43-year-old reveals what he would be happy to do without on the day of the match.

Show more
Auslosung DFB-Pokal-Viertelfinale
DFB-Pokal - 07.12.2025

DFB Pokal 2025/26: Bayer 04 host FC St. Pauli in quarter-finals

The next opponents in the 2025/26 DFB Pokal have been announced: Bayer 04 will host Bundesliga rivals FC St. Pauli in the quarter-finals. That was the outcome of the draw held this Sunday evening, 7 December, at the German Football Museum in Dortmund, where long-time Bundesliga player and coach Friedhelm Funkel made the draw. The Werkself will play their quarter-final tie on 3-4 or 10-11 February 2026. The exact dates have yet to be finalised.

Show more
Kasper Hjulmand
Bundesliga - 07.12.2025

Werkself review #FCAB04: ‘Quickly get back to the character of our game’

After falling behind early on, Bayer 04 took control of the game against a combative and disciplined FC Augsburg on Saturday afternoon. However, they lacked the necessary precision in finishing and hit the post and crossbar three times. After the game, coach Kasper Hjulmand said he wanted to get back to the "right philosophy" of previous matches with three games left in 2025. The Werkself review.

Show more