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“We are expecting a tough match with intense duels. It’s a very important game for both teams. We want to produce a good performance and show what we can do on the pitch,” said coach Alonso at the pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon.
The derby in Cologne is the first of five matches in 14 days. Alonso: “Now we are going into the next intense phase up to the international break. The players have deserved the last few days off and it gave them the chance to relax their minds and legs. We’ve trained well this week and are ready for Sunday.”
The Spaniard is aware of the special aspect of this derby: “Games like this are always special. You notice that in the warm-up and the songs the fans sing. There’s always a very special atmosphere at the derby. The rivalry is part of that but it belongs on the pitch.” Alonso added: “Our anticipation is great as is the respect for the match and FC Köln. We need to be fully focused, we need to play with our hearts but also with our heads on Sunday.”
FC Köln are currently in the play-off spot eight points behind VfL Bochum. In response to a question on the current tricky situation for the team from Cologne, Alonso said: “There are still lots of games and lots of points up for grabs. Anything can happen and not just for Köln but also for any team anywhere in the table.”
In addition, Alonso had positive team news for Sunday. The Spaniard said Exequiel Palacios will be back in the squad for the derby. “Pala feels really good, he’s trained well and is ready.” On Arthur and Victor Boniface, who are still sidelined, Alonso said: “They are currently working hard, ambitiously and professionally on their comebacks. Things are going in the right direction.”
Sunday’s derby will be broadcast live in Germany on DAZN and on Werkself Radio. The Werkself will again have strong support in Cologne: 5,000 Bayer 04 fans will get behind the Black and Reds at the game on Sunday.
Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...
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The ‘year after’ the most successful year in the club's history brought many changes at Bayer 04. In an exclusive double interview with bayer04.de shortly before the Christmas break, Fernando Carro and Simon Rolfes spoke about building a new team capable of winning trophies, the work of coach Kasper Hjulmand, the young new signings who have quickly developed into key players, and their personal plans for the Christmas holidays. Their outlook for the coming year also shows that the potential is far from exhausted and ambitions remain high.
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Sustainability once again had many faces at Bayer 04 in 2025: In community activity, the club supported countless regional campaigns, including the Leverkusener Tafel, the Frauenennotruf Leverkusen e.V. and the homeless aid organisation "Kältegang". But the Black and Reds have also been involved in good causes around the world - including the Young Coaches training programmes in Uganda and Ecuador plus the Genuine World Cup in the USA, where the Inclusion Werkself competed. Bayer 04 was also fully committed to the environment and underwent external and independently certification in accordance with the European environmental management standard EMAS, for example, to analyse and optimise the club’s environmental efforts. Looking back at sustainability in 2025.
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Two Saturdays, one Friday and one Sunday: The dates for the Bayer 04 Women's team games on matchdays 16 to 19 have been finalised. Three of the four matches scheduled by the German Football Association (DFB) on Tuesday will be played at home at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium.
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In this video, the lads and lasses demonstrate that Bayer 04 are not just great performers on the pitch, but are also very creative with Christmas songs. Watch Robert Andrich, Alejandro Grimaldo, Ibrahim Maza, Jarell Quansah, Kristin Kögel, Carlotta Wamser and many other players perform a very special version of the Christmas hit Jingle Bells.
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