1. FC Köln play Xabi Alonso's formidable Bayer Leverkusen side on Sunday with the hope of being the first team to beat their local rivals this season.
Match Overview
1. FC Köln
Köln made a good account of themselves last time out in the Bundesliga. A one-one draw with VfB Stuttgart meant they moved one point closer to safety at the end of the season.
However, a late Faride Alidou chance meant they could have gotten all three points last weekend. With only sixteen goals this campaign in the league, Köln are comfortably the lowest scoring side in the Bundesliga.
Recent history is on the side of the Billy Goats, however, as they won their reverse clash with "Die Werkself" last season 2-1 in May.
Striker Davie Selke was deemed not fit enough to start by Timo Schultz this week, however the former St. Pauli manager did not rule out the German striker coming off the bench.
Ahead of the derby clash, Köln's coach Timo Schultz said: "We'll have to be compact and awkward. We can and will do that. We firmly believe we can get three points."
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen are on an incredible and historic run of thirty-three games without defeat in all competitions.
Despite this, there is a different feeling around derbies and Xabi Alonso did not underestimate this when he said: "You feel it in the warm-up and with the songs the fans sing. It's a special atmosphere with a derby. We need the utmost concentration, need to play with heart but also our heads."
Former Köln youth prospect Florian Wirtz, who assisted against the side from Müngersdorf in October will hope to go one better and score against his former side.
Köln, however, will not only be worried by their goals tally this season but also Bayer Leverkusen's strong defence as the Werkself have only conceded sixteen in the Bundesliga this season.
Lastly, Bayer Leverkusen will be encouraged by their last result against Köln in which they won 3-0 in a dominant display in the Bundesliga.
Team News
1. FC Köln
Köln are without Mark Uth who is still injured following months on the sidelines. Luca Waldschmidt is also still out for Köln and will probably only return after the international break. Damion Downs and Davie Selke are both doubts ahead of Sunday's tie.
Bayer Leverkusen
Only Victor Boniface and Arthur are missing for Bayer 04, with Boniface reportedly on-track for returning in April.
Predicted Lineups
1. FC Köln:
Schwäbe; Carstensen, Hübers, Chabot, Finkgräfe; Martel, Huseinbašić; Ljubicic, Kainz (c), Maina; Thielmann
Bayer Leverkusen:
Hrádecký (c); Kossounou, Tah, Tapsoba; Frimpong, Xhaka, Andrich, Grimaldo; Hofmann, Wirtz - Adli
Match Result
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