Rhenish derby: Cologne's rise meets Gladbach's turnaround!

Rhenish derby: Cologne's rise meets Gladbach's turnaround!

On Saturday, November 8th, 2025, things will get going in the Rhenish derby when 1. FC Köln meets Borussia Mönchengladbach at 6:30 p.m. On paper, it looks as if Gladbach has the better cards: with 52 wins from 98 matches, they are clearly ahead in the derby statistics, while FC only has 28 wins and drew 18 times. But the current form could change the omens, because Cologne has had a respectable season as a promoted team and is currently in seventh place in the Bundesliga with 14 points.

Coach Lukas Kwasniok, who is experiencing his first Rhenish derby, is seen by many as the architect of Cologne's upswing. Together with sports director Thomas Kessler, Kwasniok not only integrated his specialist knowledge and tactical innovations into the game preparation, but also sought closeness to the fans. His striking appearance with clothing bearing the Cologne coat of arms and his commitment to the supporters make him popular with fans.

The pressure in the derby

For Kwasniok, the meaning of the derby is clear: a win could make the fans happy and give the team the necessary tailwind for the coming games. The coach emphasizes how important it is to successfully motivate the squad and make structural changes. He has varied the starting eleven in recent games in order to exploit the strengths and weaknesses of his opponents.

One participant all eyes are on is Said El Mala. The winger, who is only 19 years old, brings a lot of talent with him, but Kwasniok is tempering expectations so as not to put him under pressure. In the last match, Florian Kainz scored an impressive free kick goal that led to a 4-1 win against Hamburger SV. These performances further fuel the anticipation for the derby.

The initial situation

Gladbach, on the other hand, has had a difficult phase, but after a negative series they were finally able to celebrate their first success of the season with a 4-0 win against FC St. Pauli. This return to success could mean new impetus for coach Gerardo Seoane's team. However, the pressure to win against FC Köln will be on both Gladbach and the Cologne team.

If you look back at what was at stake in the last few encounters, a clear trend emerges: In a derby, it is not just the sporting performance that is crucial, but also the mental state of the players. Was Kwasniok able to motivate his team enough to overcome their nervousness? That will be crucial for the outcome of the game.

While football fans are now looking forward to the derby, there is also a host of other news that deserves their attention. In the area of ​​digital entertainment, for example, there is news from the world of games. The Epic Games Store is offering two free games until November 13, 2025: Felix The Reaper, a 3D puzzle game, and Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms, a D&D strategy management game with a bundle of in-app purchases. If you haven't snapped up yet, you should hurry up, because the offers are limited in time and future free games, such as "Scourgebringer" and "Songs of Silence", are already in the starting blocks.

For many fans of the colorful world of entertainment, such offers are another reason to keep their eyes open and make the most of current developments. Either way, Saturday remains a very special day for all football and sports enthusiasts!

Make a note in your calendar and keep your fingers crossed – the Rhenish derby promises to be exciting!

ZDF reports and Math Stack Exchange has interesting facts provided. Don't miss out on the latest offers Epic Games Store.