1. FC Köln vs Bayer Leverkusen preview: A home derby win to stay up?

FC Köln 

Köln are unbeaten in their last five Bundesliga games including a 1-1 draw against St. Pauli in their last game coming from behind.

Köln winger Said El Mala once again made headlines, but this time for his selflessness in giving the deciding penalty to fellow teammate Luca Waldschmidt.

For Köln, one big issue will be the striker as Ragnar Ache got injured in the game against St. Pauli and will be out for the rest of the season. 

Replacing him will most likely be Marius Bülter who has however only netted three goals this season with the last one coming back on matchday 11 against Eintracht Frankfurt. 

For Köln, a win at home against Leverkusen would mark the first time since 2023 that they've beaten the Rhine side at all in the derby with the four meetings since then all being Leverkusen wins.

Team news

Köln are without Ragnar Ache and both Luca Kilian and Timo Hübers. Eric Martel is one card off a yellow card suspension with nine yellow cards.

Predicted lineup (3-4-1-2) left to right:

Schwäbe - Özkacar, Simpson-Pusey, Sebulonsen - Castro-Montes, Martel, Johanesson, Maina - Kaminski - El Mala, Bülter

Bayer Leverkusen

Leverkusen are currently low off a double blow: a 2-1 loss against Augsburg last weekend and a midweek loss to Bayern Munich in the DFB Pokal semis.

However, striker Patrik Schick has been a bright light for them this season with 11 goals in the Bundesliga including the opener in the loss to Augsburg.

Currently, the club are in sixth in the Bundesliga and fighting for top four with four points separating them and Stuttgart.

With games against Stuttgart and Leipzig in the league still to go in the next few weeks, it is vital for the away side to grab a win in the “small Rhine derby” this weekend.

Head coach Kasper Hjulmand said: “The team and everyone at the club know how important the derby is. We have four games left and we'll do everything we can to win them.”

Team news

Bayer Leverkusen are without Arthur, Martin Terrier (who scored a wonder goal against Köln in the reverse fixture) and Christian Kofane.

Predicted lineup (3-4-2-1) left to right:: 

Flekken - Tapsoba, Badé, Andrich - Grimaldo, García, Palacios, Culbreath - Poku,  Maza - Schick