Cologne vs Bayer Leverkusen Lineups, Prediction, Betting Picks & Odds

Cologne vs Bayer Leverkusen Game Preview

Bayer Leverkusen head to RheinEnergieSTADION for a Sunday Rhine derby, and the Cologne vs Bayer Leverkusen betting odds make the visitors -120 (Kalshi) favorites despite a miserable week.

Cologne sit 15th in the Bundesliga standings and have been more stubborn than sharp. Finishing remains their sore spot, which is a bad weakness to carry into a derby against a top-six side.

Leverkusen sit sixth, but they arrive off back-to-back defeats to Stuttgart and Marseille. Carles Martínez needs a response, and a derby against a struggling rival is the ideal place to find one.

History favors the visitors. Leverkusen have won their last three away games against Cologne in all competitions, and the hosts need to find answers fast.

Cologne vs Bayer Leverkusen Recent Results

Cologne hammered Union Berlin 5-0 in the DFB-Pokal, then needed debutant Malek El Mala to rescue a tie away at the same club in the Bundesliga. That cup rout is the outlier. René Wagner's men have won just two of their last eight competitive games, and Saïd El Mala carries a heavy share of the attacking load.

Leverkusen arrive off back-to-back defeats. Stuttgart won 4-2 at the BayArena in the Bundesliga despite goals from Patrik Schick and Ibrahim Maza, and Marseille then won 1-0 at Leverkusen in the Europa League. Schick remains the man to watch, but a back line that keeps leaking at the wrong moments has turned a good attack into a shaky team.

Cologne vs Bayer Leverkusen Lineups & Team News

Injuries & Suspensions

Cologne: Imad Rondić (Injured/out), Timo Hübers (Injured/out), Rav van den Berg (Injured/out), Thijs Dallinga (Injured/out), Ellyes Skhiri (Injured/out), Ragnar Ache (Injured/doubtful)

Bayer Leverkusen: Moussa Diaby (Injured/out), Kennet Eichhorn (Injured/out), Martin Terrier (Injured/doubtful), Guéla Doué (Injured/doubtful), Eliesse Ben Seghir (Injured/doubtful), Christian Kofane (Injured/doubtful)

Cologne

The Cologne vs Bayer Leverkusen lineups get a lift on the home side, with striker Ragnar Ache back in the squad and winger Mikey Moore expected to return. Borna Sosa starts at left back, but Ellyes Skhiri is out until the new year.

Bayer Leverkusen

Christian Kofane could return from injury, and Afonso Moreira is expected to step into the probable lineup on the left. Moussa Diaby and Kennet Eichhorn remain sidelined, while Martin Terrier is a doubt.

Cologne vs Bayer Leverkusen Predicted Lineup

Cologne

Formation: 4-4-2 (probable)

Predicted Starting Lineup: Marvin Schwäbe; Sebastian Sebulonsen, Joël Schmied, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, Borna Sosa; Linton Maina, Tom Krauß, Paul Okon-Engstler, Mikey Moore; Saïd El Mala, Marius Bülter (probable)

Bayer Leverkusen

Formation: 4-2-3-1 (probable)

Predicted Starting Lineup: Mark Flekken; Jarell Quansah, Edmond Tapsoba, Facundo Medina, Miguel Gutiérrez; Equi Fernández, Aleix García; Jonas Hofmann, Ibrahim Maza, Afonso Moreira; Patrik Schick (probable)

Cologne vs Bayer Leverkusen Key Stats & Game Facts

• Bayer Leverkusen have scored 2+ goals in 4 out of 4 games against Cologne in the Bundesliga.
• There have been 29+ shots taken in 5 of Bayer Leverkusen's last 6 games in the Bundesliga.
• Marius Bülter has won 3+ fouls in 5 of his last 5 appearances in the Bundesliga.
• Jan Thielmann has been carded in 3 of his last 5 appearances against Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.
• Patrik Schick has recorded 1+ shots on target in 5 of his last 6 appearances against Cologne in the Bundesliga.

Cologne vs Bayer Leverkusen Prediction & Best Picks

Our Prediction

Our prediction is a 2-1 Leverkusen win. The Cologne vs Bayer Leverkusen prediction leans toward the visitors for good reason: the projections give them a 54% win probability, and their attack is simply better than anything Cologne can put on the field. Cologne can find the net at home, but Leverkusen's quality in the final third settles it.

Best Picks

Bayer Leverkusen to win away at Cologne in the Moneyline market. This is a Moneyline play, and it lines up with the projections, which have Leverkusen as clear favorites. Leverkusen have put 2+ goals on the board seven times across their last eight Bundesliga outings, and that kind of output travels.

Both teams to score: Yes, in the Both Teams To Score market. That is the Both Teams To Score market, and the projections put both teams scoring at 64%. Cologne have been held scoreless in three of their four most recent Bundesliga games against Leverkusen, but Ache and Moore returning gives the hosts a sharper edge up front.

Cologne vs Bayer Leverkusen Same Game Parlay

Our Cologne vs Bayer Leverkusen same game parlay picks build around the visitors' attack, with two Patrik Schick props, a Leverkusen team goals line and a Facundo Medina card.

Patrik Schick to score in the Anytime Goalscorer market. He has scored in 7 of his last 8 Bundesliga appearances, and nobody in this matchup finishes like him.

Schick over 3.5 shots in the Player Shots market. He has attempted 4+ shots in 6 of his last 8 Bundesliga appearances, so volume is not the issue.

Leverkusen over 1.5 goals in the Total Away Goals market. Across their last eight Bundesliga games, the visitors have scored 2+ goals seven times, with their wide play doing plenty of the damage.

Facundo Medina to be shown a card in the To Be Shown A Card market. Leverkusen have picked up 2+ cards in each of their last four Bundesliga games against Cologne.

Make sure to get the best odds on your Same Game Parlay with Oddschecker's Exclusive Same Game Parlay Comparison Tool.

Same Game Parlay odds correct at time of publishing.

Cologne vs Bayer Leverkusen Talking Points

Cologne have been stubborn at RheinEnergieSTADION, unbeaten in all home competitions this season under René Wagner, and that is the one thread the hosts can cling to. This is also Carles Martínez's first Rhine derby as Leverkusen coach, and his side have conceded 16 goals in the Bundesliga so far this season. The tactical battle sits out wide: attacking down the wings is Leverkusen's biggest strength, while defending against attacks down the wings is a soft spot for Cologne. That is why our Cologne vs Bayer Leverkusen best picks back the visitors to win but expect goals at both ends.

Cologne vs Bayer Leverkusen Predictions FAQs

Who is predicted to win Cologne vs Bayer Leverkusen?

Bayer Leverkusen have the highest win probability at 54.23%, compared with 24.53% for Cologne and 21.24% for a tie.

When is the Cologne vs Bayer Leverkusen Bundesliga game?

The game is on Sunday, November 8, 2026, with kickoff at 9:30 AM ET / 6:30 AM PT.

Where is Cologne vs Bayer Leverkusen being played?

The game is being played at RheinEnergieSTADION.

What formations are expected for Cologne and Bayer Leverkusen?

Cologne are expected to line up in a 4-4-2 formation, while Bayer Leverkusen are expected to use a 4-2-3-1 formation.

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