FC Köln vs. Mainz 05 preview: Hosts out to end frustrating winless run

FC Köln will look to end their eight-game winless run when they welcome Mainz 05 for Saturday’s Bundesliga contest.

FC Köln 

Köln are in the midst of the current longest winless run in the Bundesliga, having drawn three and lost five of their last eight league matches since hammering Hamburger SV 4-1 on November 2. In fact, they have lost three of their previous four top-flight matches, including a 3-1 loss in their midweek home clash against Bayern Munich. Linton Maina opened the scoring against the league leaders, but goals from Serge Gnabry, Kim Min-jae and Lennart Karl condemned Köln to their fourth home defeat of the season, leaving them in 12th place and five points clear of danger. 

Die Geißböcke will now return to the RheinEnergieStadion, where they will look to complete a league double over Mainz after picking up a 1-0 victory in August’s reverse fixture, thanks to Marius Bülter’s 90th-minute winner. In fact, Köln have lost just one of their previous 14 home matches against Mainz, although only one of their last home encounters have produced a victory. 

Team News

Köln boss Lukas Kwasniok is unable to call upon Dominique Heintz, Timo Hübers, Luca Kilian, and Malek El Mala due to injury. Meanwhile, defender Joël Schmied remains a doubt after missing the last six matches due to a thigh problem. 

Predicted lineup: Schwäbe; Van den Berg, Martel, Simpson-Pusey; Sebulonsen, Johannesson, Krauß, Castro-Montes; Thielmann, Kamiński, Ache

Mainz 05

Mainz are sitting in the Bundesliga relegation playoff spot after winning two, drawing six and losing nine of their 17 matches this season. They recorded the second of those two victories in Tuesday’s home clash against relegation-threatened Heidenheim. Silvan Widmer and Nadiem Amiri grabbed a goal apiece to fire their side to a narrow 2-1 win, ending Mainz’s wait for their first home league victory of the season at the ninth time of asking. 

Die Nullfünfer will now head on their travels with hopes of ending their eight-game winless away run in all competitions. They at least avoided defeat in their last three away trips, playing out a Conference League draw with Lech Poznan, before drawing 2-2 against Bayern Munich and Union Berlin. 

Their hopes of claiming all three points will be tempered by the fact that they have not won at the RheinEnergieStadion since they claimed a 3-2 victory in April 2021. 

Team News

The visitors are without Anthony Caci, Maxim Dal, Phillipp Mwene, Nikolas Veratschnig and Robin Zentner. Meanwhile, Nelson Weiper, Benedict Hollerbach and Maxim Leitsch are unavailable due to illness.

Predicted lineup: Batz; Kohr, Bell, Potulski; Da Costa, Amiri, Sano, Lee, Widmer; Tietz, Sieb