Bayer beat Koln 5-0 on aggregate across two Bundesliga meetings last season.
Koln’s main priority will be winning promotion.
Bayer have won their last 10 home games.
Bayer can brush aside Koln
Defending champions Bayer Leverkusen entertain Bundesliga 2 pacesetters FC Koln in the DfB Pokal on Wednesday and anything other than a convincing home win would be a surprise.
Bayer have won their last 10 home games in all competitions and have scored 29 goals across those games.
Koln are flying in the second tier as they bid to bounce back at the first attempt after last season’s relegation, but the hosts are a level or two above the Billy Goats and it could be a tough evening for the away side.
Bayer are the heavy favouites and I’m backing them to cover a -2 handicap here. Bayer beat Koln 2-0 and 3-0 in the two Bundesliga meetings last season between these sides and are in free-scoring form at home, so if they’re able to take an early lead they could run way with this tie.
Koln’s number one aim this season is clearly to win promotion, while the cup is probably higher on the priority list for Bayer as they look on course for a top four finish in the league but defending their Bundesliga crown woll be a big ask as Bayern Munich have a six-point lead at the top.
Koln’s defence has been solid this season but Bayer’s frontline will be the best they have faced by some distance. The hosts are more than capable of scoring heavily at home so a 4-0 win for Bayer seems a reasonable correct score prediction.
