- Bayer 04 Leverkusen are favourites with bookmakers for Sunday's Bundesliga derby against 1. FC Köln, although they arrive on a two-match losing streak.
- Werkself have conceded 11 goals in 4 away Bundesliga matches in 2026-2027, and there is reason to believe Köln can land a punch in Sunday's game.
- Both teams to Score - Yes & Over 2.5 goals is the only recommended play, because Köln can make it a tough game in front of their home fans.
Go for goals when the Billy Goats visit Leverkusen
Werkself will be expected to take all three points when they take on 1. FC Koln at RheinEnergieSTADION on Sunday, but Bayer 04 Leverkusen are hard to recommend after a run of 2 wins and 3 defeats in their last 5 games in all competitions.
Xabi Alonso's side suffered a 2-4 defeat to Stuttgart in the previous Bundesliga round and were then beaten 1-0 at home by Marseille in the Europa League.
The Billy Goats have been a little up and down themselves with 2 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat in their last 5 in all competitions, but they will make life tough for Leverkusen in front of their own fans, where they are unbeaten in three. The 5-0 cup thrashing of Union Berlin showed what they are capable of when things go their way and in Thijs Dallinga, who has 2 Bundesliga goals in 3 games this term, they have the most dangerous player on the pitch.
Werkself have a psychological edge in head-to-head matchups
Leverkusen have won all three head-to-heads and they beat Köln 2-1 away in Bundesliga 2025/2026, so there is a psychological aspect here that the visitors can exploit. Carles Martínez has made them a much more forward-thinking team this season, with a 4-2-3-1 that is built on possession-based control and an aggressive press.
But this style can leave them open to counter-attack, which could be a problem in this derby as Rene Wagner's men are set up to be solid at the back and release speedy players into the box. Köln's 3-3-2-2 system is good for that and should give them a good chance of getting on the scoresheet.
Leverkusen are clearly the better side with the greater firepower - as Patrik Schick, who leads the club with 4 Bundesliga goals from 4 appearances, will testify. But Ibrahim Maza adds some punch to this lineup with 2 goals from the last 5, so we're going to back Both Teams to Score - Yes at 1.42 & Over 2.5 goals at 1.38 with an away win at 1.66.
