As a result of construction work on the roads and rail, delays are expected in the Cologne metropolitan area this weekend . The main reasons are the closure of the A1 motorway in both directions at the Cologne North intersection on Friday night as well as track maintenance work affecting the RE5, RB26 and RB48 train services. Fans are advised to allow more time for their journey. And waterproof clothing may also be advisable as rain is forecast.
Back to football. Since the 5-1 win at Gladbach,, the Werkself are finally back in the top half of the table in ninth place on 12 points. In contrast, FC Köln have made one of the worst starts in the history of the Bundesliga and are currently bottom of the top-flight table on just two points. The situation looks clear on paper. And the record books are also positive in one direction: The neighbouring cities have met 60 times in the Bundesliga. Bayer 04 have won 22 times and suffered 14 defeats with the other 24 encounters ending all square.
The last nine Bundesliga games show the Werkself feel more secure at the BayArena than they do on the road: Heiko Herrlich's team have collected eight out of their 12 points at home. Only TSG Hoffenheim (2-2) and VfL Wolfsburg (2-2) have taken points in Leverkusen this season with SC Freiburg (0-4) and Hamburg SV (0-3) leaving empty-handed – and second division Union Berlin were also sent packing in a 4-1 defeat in the DFB Cup on Tuesday. It remains to be seen whether the same fate will meet FC Köln on Saturday. The Rhine rivals have not won any of their last 12 away games (four draws and eight defeats). And: The Black and Reds have won 14 of their 22 wins against the team from Cologne in front of their own fans.
The Werkself fans have seen 20 goals this season – an average of two every game. By comparison: FC fans have only witnessed three goals. After nine games in the Bundesliga, only the two teams on top of the league on equal points, Borussia Dortmund (25) and Bayern Munich (22), have scored more goals than the Herrlich team. One notable fact is that the 20 goals have been scored by 12 players – best in the league made in Leverkusen. Another impressive run is also the best in the league: The Werkself have scored in all of their last 14 Bundesliga fixtures.
The 5-1 win at Gladbach was a real treat. Leverkusen have only scored five goals in a half once before and that was the 9-1 win against Ulm on 18 March 2000. With the exception of Wendell's shot against the bar, all the shots on the Foals' goal in the second half ended in the back of the net. Kai Havertz played a key role in the victory. The youngster was on fire in the second half with three assists. The 18-year-old is the youngest player in the Bundesliga to set up three goals in a league match. That could only be more sensational if he manages to do the same against FC Köln.
Playing in blue shirts away to FC Bayern and at Mainz did not bring any luck as the games ended in defeat both times. The Werkself played in their red shirts in the last two away games – picking up four points. Herrlich's team also played in red in the DFB Cup game at the BayArena on Tuesday. And they got through to the Round of 16. Bayer 04 will again wear red shirts, red shorts and red socks against FC Köln. According to the motto: Show your colours and fly the flag.
The pros game kicks off at 15.30 CET. When the stadium opens at 13.30 CET, the Bayer 04 and FC Köln veterans teams will face each other in the shadow of the BayArena. The veterans teams of the two Rhine neighbours will play a game of 30 minutes each way. The Bayer 04 side will include former stars Erik Meijer, Marko Babic and Falko Götz and Stephan Engels and Matthias Hönerbach will be in the ranks of the FC Köln old boys. Anybody unable to be there can watch the match live on the Bayer 04 Facebook site.
Falko Götz, former Bundesliga coach and 1988 UEFA Cup winner with Bayer 04, and Matthias Hönerbach, former Bayer 04 youth player and FC pro will not face each other in the Veterans game. They will watch the match between the Black and Reds and the Red and Whites at the BayArena before moving on to the Schwadbud at around 17.45 CET as guests at the popular #W11Fantalk to discuss the big match. If you have any questions for the pair you are welcome to send them via Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #W11Fantalk.
Bayer 04 and Olympiacos had only met twice before the current UEFA Champions campaign. After the encounter on Matchday 7 of this season’s league phase, the Werkself travel to face the Greek side for the second time in just four weeks for the knockout play-off first leg. The Black and Reds were dominant for large spells in mid-January but lost 2-0 after missing a number of presentable chances. The Werkself aim to do better on Wednesday night to “seize the chance for revenge,” as managing director sport Simon Rolfes put it. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
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A bitter end to the fifth showdown of the 2025/26 VBL Club Championship as the #B04eSports team failed to take any points in the three remaining matches of the preliminary online round of the fifth and final showdown, missing out on the offline round. They can no longer take points in the overall table. Bayer 04 slipped out on the top eight, so direct participation in the final event for the German Club Championship is no longer possible, with Bayer 04 having to contest the play-offs.
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A rematch in Athens: On Wednesday, 18 February (kick-off: 21:00 CET), the Werkself face Greek double winners Olympiacos for the second time this season at the Karaiskakis Stadium. After the encounter in the league phase, it's now time for the first leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League play-offs. Ahead of the game, head coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke about how his side will approach the clash, while captain Robert Andrich explained how the team will try to dampen the atmosphere in the stadium tomorrow.
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With the much-celebrated 2-1 derby win against 1. FC Köln, the Bayer 04 Women underlined their credentials as one of the top teams in the Bundesliga. Anyone wishing to support the Werkself in the stadium in the race for third place can now purchase tickets for the home match against FC Carl Zeiss Jena. Tickets are also still available for the upcoming clash against TSG Hoffenheim at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Sunday, 22 February. The latest information at a glance.
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Let's give it our all one more time! Today, Tuesday 17 February (live on the VBL Twitch channel from 18:00 CET), the #B04eSports team play the remaining three preliminary round matches of the fifth and final showdown of the VBL Club Championship 2025/26. The Leverkusen console pros go up against 1. FC Nürnberg, 1. FC Magdeburg and Bayern Munich, aiming to secure their place in the offline knockout round and pick up valuable points for the overall table and the battle to get into the final event for the German Club Championship. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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