After a ten-minute delay due to a build-up of smoke in the stadium, Bayer 04 immediately took control with FC Köln showing tactical discipline in their own half. It took 30 minutes before the Werkself had the first big chance from a free kick taken by Alejandro Grimaldo. The Spaniard just missed the target again three minutes later but then there were no more chances for either side – until FC Köln's Damion Downs made it 1-0 with almost the last kick of the half (45+10'). The visitors doubled the lead from a counter-attack after the restart with a goal scored by Linton Maina (54') with Patrik Schick halving the deficit just seven minutes later. The Black and Reds pressed forward in search of the leveller – and equalised. Schick headed home to make it 2-2 in added time (90+6') to take the tie into extra time. Substitute Victor Boniface turned the game round with a strike on 98 minutes to put the holders in the semi-finals. The match report is HERE.
Skipper Jonathan Tah said after the game: "That was a victory for the fans, for the city! Even though we were a bit sloppy with the ball at times and lacked focus in phases we managed to turn the game round. I always had the feeling that everybody had the hunger and drive to win the game." Scorer of two goals Patrik Schick said in response to a question on the last-minute equaliser in added time? "It was brilliant! Incredibly important! My job is to be there for crosses. You always have to be ready as a striker.”
Head coach Xabi Alonso summed up the Pokal tie as follows: "We’re happy to be in the semi-finals. It was a tough game against a good opponent. Perhaps we didn't have our best game but we showed a good reaction and played with a lot of courage and great belief."
The Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger reports a "Pokal drama at the BayArena" and awards top marks for Leverkusen players to Patrik Schick (1.5), Victor Boniface (2), Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong (2.5 each). The Rheinische Post headline reads, "Bayer just avoid Pokal exit." And kicker reports: "Bayer defeat efficient Köln late on. A narrow win for the Werkself who only really got going when it was almost too late." The Bild-Zeitung writes: "The last-minute Werkself are back! As was so often the case last season: Added time is Bayer time!"
“Florian Wirtz! Florian Wirtz!” Rang out around the BayArena when the Werkself gathered in front of the North Stand after the final whistle. And the 21-year-old did not miss the chance to celebrate with the fans after the derby win and the associated progress to the semi-finals as he led the singing at the home end – the Red and Black party was in full swing!
Crucial for these scenes of celebration was obviously the brace from Patrik Schick who has now scored four goals in the current DFB Pokal campaign and is thereby the top scorer in the competition.
Bayer 04 have set a new club record with this derby win: It was the tenth win in the DFB Pokal in succession. Also a club record: The Werkself have scored in the last 35 ties in the DFB Pokal (101 goals in total) – the longest scoring run in this competition (at least since 2006). In addition, the holders under Xabi Alonso remain unbeaten across seasons in this competition.
The stats in the game clearly favour the holders whose run of clean sheets in the DFB Pokal finally came to an end after 526 minutes: 23 to 5 shots on goal, 79% possession, 58% of challenges won and a significantly better pass completion rate (91 to 70%).
After three home games, Bayer 04 are next in action on the road. The Werkself are away to VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday, 8 February (kick-off: 15.30 CET). That is followed a week later by the top match at the BayArena against Bayern Munich with the kick off at 18.30 CET.
Sandwiched between their UEFA Champions League knockout play-off tie against Olympiacos, Bayer 04 return to Bundesliga action on Saturday with a trip to Union Berlin (kick-off: 15:30 CET). It’s a fixture of contrasting styles, with Leverkusen preferring to control the play while Union look to remain compact and counter. The Berliners are therefore suited to facing top teams, but they have only ever managed to win one of 16 meetings with the Werkself, who are looking for a fifth clean sheet of 2026 but will need to beware the home side’s threat from set pieces. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
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After six wins in seven games, the Werkself will be looking to continue their winning run in the capital at FC Union Berlin. Coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke ahead of the match on Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET) about defenders, the short preparation time and the condition of the pitch at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.
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Union Berlin have performed particularly well against the top clubs in the Bundesliga this season with a draw at home to Bayern Munich and wins against VfB Stuttgart and RB Leipzig. This Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET), the Irons now welcome the Werkself, currently sixth in the table, to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. And the hosts are in desperate need of a win. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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It took exactly 60 minutes for the Werkself to take the lead through a perfectly finished counter-attack by Patrik Schick in the first leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League play-off at Olympiacos. Referring to the meeting in the league phase and the initially squandered opportunities, coach Kasper Hjulmand said afterwards: "I thought: 'Oh no, déjà-vu.'" But after the opening goal, it took just 144 seconds for the Czech to spark more wild celebrations among those in black and red in the Greek cauldron, when Schick nodded in Alejandro Grimaldo's corner. Much to the delight of the Bayer 04 fans, his teammates and his coach, who had warm words for the striker in the aftermath. The Werkself Review.
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