After a balanced first half it was the hosts who struck first at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. Akkaynak got on the end of a good ball and found the back of the FC Köln net to give Bayer 04 the lead.
Following substitutions during the break, Köln improved in the second half. Within 10 minutes the visitors turn the game round with two goals.
Late decider
Instead of an equaliser, a breakaway attack in the closing stages led to FC Köln sealing victory with a third goal. "The lads gave everything right to the end but were unable to find the finishing touch," said coach Markus von Ahlen.
Schalke 04 next up
The Bayer 04 U19s do not have time to let their heads drop. The next big challenge is on Sunday when the team travels to the big away game at FC Schalke 04. With two games to play the U19s are level on points with the Royal Blues in second position.
At the end of the season that position would be enough to qualify for the German Championship semi-finals.
Match stats:
Bayer 04 U19: Prinz - Popovic, Nesseler, Rhein (Yalcin 72’), Osawe, Mbay, Grym (Handwerker 46’), Abu Hanna, Stanilweicz (Shala 59’), Akkaynak, Schreck (Bednarczyk 59’).
Arminia Bielefeld U19: Theißen - Goden (Wendel 87’), Jakobs, Sonnenberg (Miotke 46’), Brackelmann, Akalp, Rittmüller (Bezerra 59’), Ciftci, Churlinov, Szöke, Ametov (Karweina 46’).
Goals: 1-0 Akkaynak (45’), 1-1 Jakobs (68’), 1-2 Bezerra (78’), 1-3 Karweina (87’).
Booked: / - Churlinov.
Referee: Orbach (Cologne).
NEXT U19 GAMES:
| Competition |
Opponents |
Venue | Date |
Kick-off |
| Bundesliga | FC Schalke 04 | A | 30.04. | 13:00 |
| Bundesliga | Viktoria Köln | H | 06.05. | 13:00 |
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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