Cologne vs. Bayer Leverkusen: probable teams, match stats and LIVE blog!

Latest

Cologne captain Hector has missed the last three games due to a deep gash around his ankle, but the 32-year-old has returned to training ahead of what would be his 13th derby. Coach Steffen Baumgart said after Sunday's 2-0 loss at Freiburg that he's hopeful of having his on-field leader back in time for the final two fixtures of the year. The Billy Goats' defeat at the weekend was their third in a row on the road in the Bundesliga and saw them drop to 12th, but they are unbeaten in three at the RheinEnergieStadion, including thrilling 3-2 wins over Borussia Dortmund and Augsburg. Timo Hübers is set to return in central defence after missing the Freiburg match, while Steffen Tigges remains the only out-and-out striker available for a coach who has stated his preference to play with two up top.

Leverkusen begin this Englische Woche five points behind their local rivals, but a 5-0 thrashing of Union Berlin has at least lifted Die Werkself out of the bottom three - albeit only by a single point. Sunday's victory was just Alonso's second in eight fixtures at the helm at the BayArena. Used to some of football's biggest games as a player, he now gets his first taste of the rivalry in the Rhine as a coach. The Spaniard confirmed that defender Jonathan Tah will play in these final two matches of 2022, but striker Patrik Schick is struggling with an adductor issue and might miss out again. There's also hope in Leverkusen that Florian Wirtz could return to action before the winter break after missing the majority of the year with a cruciate ligament injury sustained in the last derby encounter in March.

Match stats

Benno Schmitz (two) has scored the most own goals in the German top flight this term, while Cologne's combined return of three own goals is also the highest in the league.

No team has made more crosses than Cologne (183) after 13 Matchdays of the campaign.

Cologne have collected 11 of their 17 points at the RheinEnergieStadion so far this season and their home record of three wins, two draws and just one defeat is the seventh best in the division.

Leverkusen, meanwhile, have only one away victory this season and their four point return (W1, D1, L4) is the fourth worst in the league.

Moussa Diaby (22.7 mph) is currently the Bundesliga's fastest player in 2022/23.

Die Werkself have lost just one of the last five meetings with the Billy Goats (W3, D1, L1), although Cologne were victorious 1-0 when these teams last met in March.

Get your Fantasy ready for this midweek round!

Want more Bundesliga Action?

Sign up for our official newsletter:

E-Mail*

Subscribe

I hereby agree to the TERMS OF USE and PRIVACY STATEMENT and consent that DFL will collect, use, process and store my data if necessary for the selected Service(s). I understand that I can withdraw my consent(s) at any time. *Required

* Required

Probable teams

Cologne: Schwäbe - Schmitz, Kilian, Hübers, Pedersen - Skhiri, Martel - Maina, Duda, Kainz (c) - Tigges

Out: Andersson (knee), Dietz (knee), Lemperle (ankle), Limnios (knee), Ljubicic (knee), Uth (fitness)

Doubtful: Hector (foot)

Coach: Steffen Baumgart

Leverkusen: Hradecky (c) - Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie - Frimpong, Andrich, Palacios, Bakker - Diaby, Hlozek, Amiri

Out: Aranguiz (calf), Azmoun (muscular), Wirtz (fitness)

Doubtful: Paulinho (flu), Schick (adductor)

Coach: Xabi Alonso

About the clubs Bayer 04 Leverkusen

BayArena

1. FC Köln

RheinEnergieSTADION

Share