Victor Boniface will be looking to score his 10th goal of the season when Bayer Leverkusen faces off against 2. Bundesliga side FC Koln in the quarterfinal of the DFB Poker today at the BayArena in a Rheinland derby.
Boniface scored his first goal for the club in over three months in Leverkusen’s 3-1 win over Hoffenheim over the weekend. The Super Eagles striker had been injured since November after suffering a hamstring injury while on international duty.
The goal over the weekend was his ninth of the season in all competitions and 30th in 50 appearances for the club since joining in the summer of 2023 from Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.

Just like over the weekend, Boniface is expected to be in action for the club later today but it is unknown if he will be in the starting line-up ahead of in-form Czech striker Patrik Schick who has scored 18 goals in 27 appearances for the club this season.
Head coach Xabi Alonso says his side would not underestimate Koln who have enough quality players who can thrive in the Bundesliga.
“We are happy to be in the quarter-finals. Cologne has a squad at the Bundesliga level. They bring a lot of experience and it will be a challenging game. We are aware of the starting position and have prepared well,” Alonso said at the pre-match press conference.

“We are preparing like we would for any other game. It is important to have the right mentality for such games, especially when the atmosphere is heated. Then we have to concentrate on the game and stick to our game plan.”
Despite playing in the lower league, Leverkusen will be careful of Koln, who has been in superb form this season. They currently top the Bundesliga 2 table and have won four of their last five league games. Also, it is not just a game between two clubs but a North Rhine-Westphalia.
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