FC Cologne vs Bayer Leverkusen Preview: Team News & Prediction

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FC Cologne host a Bayer Leverkusen side, who have hit a stumbling lately following back-to-back league defeats.

Kick-off date/time: 8 November 2026 at 2:30 pm

How to watch on TV: UK – Amazon Prime Video / USA – ESPN

How to watch online: UK – Amazon Prime Video / USA – ESPN+

FC Cologne preview: Wins hard to come by

FC Cologne have won just two of their eight Bundesliga fixtures so far this campaign, which is why they sit only two points above the bottom three heading into this weekend’s round of games.

Scoring goals has been the main issue for Rene Wagner’s side in recent weeks. They have found the net just once across their last three Bundesliga matches, and that lack of a cutting edge has cost them valuable points.

Bayer Leverkusen preview: Losing valuable ground

Bayer Leverkusen have paid the price for consecutive bad results, dropping down to sixth place in the Bundesliga table. After a comprehensive 3-0 defeat away at Hoffenheim late last month, Carles Martinez's side were beaten once again last weekend, this time by Stuttgart. Sebastian Hoeness's men came to the BayArena and won by four goals to two.

Another poor result this weekend would likely see them drop out of the European places entirely, so the pressure is very much on the visitors here. Martinez will demand a response from his players, and a trip to struggling FC Cologne offers the ideal chance to provide one.

FC Cologne team news: Main injury names still out

The likes of Hubers, Skhiri and Van den Berg are all still out for FC Cologne and Ache isn’t likely to make it either, although he still stands a slight chance following a muscle issue.

Predicted XI (3-5-2): Schwabe; Schmied, Simpson-Pusey, Krauss; Sebulonsen, Maina, Okon-Engstler, Moore, Sosa; Bulter, S. El Mala

Unavailable: Dallinga (Injured), Hubers (Injured), Rondic (Injured), Skhiri (Injured), Van den Berg (Injured)

Questionable: Ache (Injured)

Bayer Leverkusen team news: Still heavily depleted

While Bayer Leverkusen will hope to have both Bade and Tella available, they remain without several injured players heading into the international break.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Flekken; Quansah, Tapsoba, Medina, Gutierrez; Garcia, Fernandez; Vazquez, Maza, Moreira; Schick

Unavailable: Ben Seghir (Injured), Diaby (Injured), Doue (Injured), Eichhorn (Injured), Kofane (Injured), Terrier (Injured)

Questionable: Bade (Injured), Tella (Injured)

Key stats

• Leverkusen have won the last four Bundesliga meetings with Köln and have won 24 of 42 since 1995/96 (D9 L9).
• FC Cologne's last win in the fixture was 2-1 in Leverkusen on 5 May 2023; their last home win over Leverkusen was 2-0 on 14 December 2019.
• FC Cologne are winless in their last five home Bundesliga games against Leverkusen (D1 L4) and have lost the last three, most recently 1-2 on 25 April 2026.
• FC Cologne have won only four of their 21 home Bundesliga games against Leverkusen since 1995/96 (D7 L10).
• FC Cologne are 13th with nine points coming into Matchweek 9, but are unbeaten in four home games this season (W2 D2) – one of five sides without a home defeat – and have not lost at home since 1-3 vs Heidenheim on 10 May 2026.
• FC Cologne are winless in three (D2 L1), drawing their last two (0-0 vs Schalke and 1-1 at Union Berlin), and have scored only nine goals in eight games.
• FC Cologne are without an away win in 17 Bundesliga games (D7 L10) since 1-0 at Hoffenheim on 3 October 2025 – equalling their longest away winless run since 1995/96 (17 in 2003/04).
• FC Cologne ln have won 33 and lost 33 of their 92 home Bundesliga games on a Sunday since 1995/96 (D26).
• Leverkusen are sixth with 13 points but have lost their last two games, 0-3 at Hoffenheim and 2-4 at home to Stuttgart, and have conceded in four consecutive games.
• Leverkusen have conceded 16 goals in eight games – equalling their most at this stage in 32 Bundesliga seasons since 1995/96 (also 16 in 2002/03 and 2022/23).
• Leverkusen have one win in four away games this season (D1 L2), 4-3 at Mainz on 10 October.
• Leverkusen's matches have averaged 4.25 goals this season, compared with 2.63 in FC Cologne games.
• Felix Zwayer has refereed four previous Bundesliga meetings of these sides since 2009/10, and FC Cologne have won two of them (D1 L1) – both 2-1 at Leverkusen, in November 2015 and May 2023.
• FC Cologne have lost only four of their 26 Bundesliga games with Zwayer in charge (W11 D11) and are unbeaten in their last four with him.

‘Key stats’ are Bundesliga only (not all competitions)

FC Cologne vs Bayer Leverkusen prediction

Expect Bayer Leverkusen to take the game to FC Cologne, pushing multiple bodies forward whenever they get the chance. However, that approach could also open the door for the hosts, who badly need three points themselves.

Cologne have had their issues in attack recently, but they have home advantage in their favour. Leverkusen have also conceded seven goals across their last two Bundesliga games. Both sides will have to commit players forward in search of victory, and neither backline looks especially secure at the moment. With that in mind, backing both teams to score has to be favoured, regardless of the final outcome.

FC Cologne vs Bayer Leverkusen tip: Both teams to score