FC Köln emerged victorious in a Cologne derby friendly, defeating FC Viktoria Köln 3-2 on January 14, 2025. This entertaining pre-season or mid-season friendly provided plenty of action for local fans at the RheinEnergieStadion. The Bundesliga side, FC Köln, took an early lead but found their lower-league city rivals to be tough opponents, as Viktoria fought back to level. Köln restored their lead, only for Viktoria to equalize again, setting up a grandstand finish. A late winner from Köln eventually decided the match, avoiding a potential upset. While the match result is secondary in a friendly, the intensity of a local derby was evident, and both managers will have used the game to assess squad players and build fitness ahead of competitive action.