Bayer Leverkusen vs Koln Prediction: Leverkusen to prove too strong for Koln

Bayer Leverkusen should have little difficulty negotiating their way past 2. Bundesliga outfit FC Koln when the sides meet at the BayArena in the DFB-Pokal quarter-finals on Wednesday night (19:45 kick-off).

Below is my Bayer Leverkusen vs Koln prediction, complete with all the latest team news and match odds for this German Cup showdown.

Football Odds

Team News

Starting with the hosts, Leverkusen are set to be without forward Nathan Tella as he works his way back from a hip injury.

Manager Xabi Alonso could be tempted to rest experienced midfielder Granit Xhaka to try to manage the Swiss star’s workload, meaning Robert Andrich may start.

Martin Terrier and Jeanuel Belocian have both been ruled out for the remainder of the season.

As for the visitors, midfielders Jacob Steen Christensen and Mathias Olesen, along with defender Eric Martel have already been ruled out of Wednesday's game due to injury.

Mark Uth and Tim Lemperle are also expected to miss out on the quarter-final, meaning Damion Downs and Steffan Tigges are likely to start in attacking roles.

Bayer Leverkusen vs Koln Odds

Bayer Leverkusen are 2/9 to win and 11/1 to suffer a shock defeat to Koln at the BayArena.

The draw on Wednesday night is available at 11/2, while Koln to win the tie is available at 6/1.

Bayer Leverkusen to win to nil @ 21/20

Having won all of their last nine games in the DFB-Pokal, this is certainly a competition Leverkusen have been enjoying under Alonso’s leadership.

What has been most impressive is Die Werkself’s defensive record in the DFB-Pokal, as they have managed to keep clean sheets in all of their last five outings in the competition.

Second-division Koln have done remarkably well to reach the quarter-finals but their journey in the competition looks set to come to an abrupt end.

Against this Leverkusen defence, it’s hard to see the visitors getting on the scoresheet and a home win to nil appeals at 21/20.

Dominique Heintz to receive a card @ 18/5

Expect Leverkusen to see plenty of the ball on Wednesday and for Koln to be doing much of the chasing over the course of the 90 minutes.

Rash tackles might start flying in if the game is not going the visitors’ way and the 18/5 on offer for Dominique Heintz to receive a card catches the eye.

No Koln player has been booked more in the league this season than Heintz and the 31-year-old defender is likely to have his hands full at the BayArena.

With Jeremie Frimpong and Jonas Hofmann set to be attacking down his channel, it would be little surprise to see Heintz add to his card count.

Offers

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