Former national soccer player Patrick Helmes sees relegation-threatened 1. FC Köln as having no chance in the derby against leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
FSV Mainz 05 “did very well in Leverkusen recently and managed to destroy the Bayer game, this blatant clockwork, in many phases with its aggressive approach,” said the 39-year-old before the Bundesliga duel between his two former players. Clubs on Sunday (3:30 p.m./DAZN). Cologne must now act in the same way.
“FC’s task will be to involve Bayer in this emotional duel again,” emphasized Helmes in an interview with the “Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger”. He also sees the dead balls as an important success factor: “Cologne have to draw a lot of fouls and get to a lot of standard situations.”
Patrick Helmes believes Bayer Leverkusen will win the championship
From the game, the worst offense in the league (16 goals) was “hardly dangerous”, but FC still scored ten goals after dead balls – while Leverkusen, according to Helmes, are definitely vulnerable when it comes to set pieces. The best defense so far had to accept eight of the 16 goals conceded.
Apart from that, Helmes praised the Werkself highly. Leverkusen not only plays Pep Guardiola football, extremely attractive and successful, but also has “a new DNA throughout the club” thanks to coach Xabi Alonso. That’s why he likes to talk about “Bayern Leverkusen. If the Leverkusen team doesn’t lose their nerve, then they will become champions.”
In the table cellar, however, the relegation was already a success for the Billy Goats, but it would not be a sure-fire success. “Mainz is currently making a better impression on me,” said Helmes: “The new coach Bo Henriksen has woken up the team and club, and Cologne still has to go to Mainz. FC can still avoid relegation, but it will be disgusting.”