Rhine derby: Leverkusen welcomes bold FC Köln in the cup quarter-finals!

Rhine derby: Leverkusen welcomes bold FC Köln in the cup quarter-finals!

In the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup this evening there will be an exciting duel between the defending champions Bayer Leverkusen and the second division team 1. FC Köln. Bayer, who have enjoyed great success in recent years, welcome Cologne, who go into the game as blatant outsiders. Coach Gerhard Struber of 1. FC Köln was impressed by Leverkusen's playing strength and described Florian Wirtz, whom he compared to Lionel Messi, as a key player: "We have to be lucky to be able to defend him," said Struber. He acknowledged that Leverkusen was one of the best teams in Europe and called on his players to go into the game with courage and respect in order to keep the favorites off balance sportkrone.at reported.

The pressure in the Rhine derby

Bayer Leverkusen is not only the defending champion in the DFB Cup, but also holds a strong position in the Bundesliga. After a confident 3-1 win against TSG Hoffenheim, the team remains on the heels of FC Bayern and has now overtaken Cologne in the all-time table. Leverkusen is ahead of Cologne with 2486 points, which has 2484 points, which increases the importance of today's game. It's a race for fame and recognition, and Leverkusen could continue to extend their lead in the all-time table until the end of the season ZDF reported.

The duel also has a historical dimension as the two teams have met several times in the past. Despite the current differences in performance and Cologne's return to the second division, the sporting spirit remains intact. Cologne urgently needs success to ease the pressure in both the league and the cup. Coach Struber is aware of the challenges and wants to use the strength of his team, even if the expectations are not the highest. “We are blatant outsiders,” he emphasizes, underlining the seriousness of today’s encounter.