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."
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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