FC Köln vs. RB Leipzig preview: Die Geißböcke eyeing third consecutive home victory

FC Köln will be targeting a third consecutive league win when they face RB Leipzig at RheinEnergieStadion on Sunday.

FC Köln

Köln are currently sitting in 10th spot after winning six, drawing five and losing nine of their 20 league games this season. They have recorded two of those victories in their last three outings, including a 2-1 success over Mainz at the RheinEnergieStadion on January 17. 

They went on to suffer a narrow defeat to Freiburg before they returned to winning ways in their home meeting with Wolfsburg at the end of last month. On that occasion, Linton Maina’s second Bundesliga goal of the season proved enough to claim a 1-0 win, representing their first home league clean sheet of the season. 

Lukas Kwasniok’s side will be eyeing a third successive home win on Saturday, but that will be easier said than done, considering they have not won any of their last seven games against Leipzig. Their most recent head-to-head win took place in April 2021, when Jonas Hector netted twice in a 2-1 victory. 

Team News

Alessio Castro-Montes and Maina have been ruled out of Sunday’s fixture due to injury. The hosts also remain without Timo Hübers, Luca Kilian, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and Dominique Heintz.

Predicted lineup: Schwäbe; Sebulonsen, Martel, Özkacar; Thielmann, Jóhannesson, Krauß, Lund; Kamiński, Bülter; Ache

RB Leipzig

Leipzig have struggled for consistent results in recent times, having won just two of their previous seven Bundesliga matches (D1, L4). They have taken just one point from two games since thrashing Heidenheim 3-0 on January 24. Ole Werner’s charges played out a 1-1 draw with St. Pauli before they fell to a 2-1 loss in last Saturday’s home meeting with Mainz 05, representing their third defeat in the last four outings at the Red Bull Arena. 

Having collected 36 points from 20 games, die Roten Bullen are sitting in fifth spot and three points adrift of the top four. A return of one win from their last five away games suggests that they may have their work cut out to claim maximum points on Sunday. That said, they can take confidence from the fact that they have won their last three meetings with Köln by a combined 14-2 scoreline, including a 3-1 success in September’s reverse fixture. 

Team News

Leipzig are unable to call upon Assan Ouédraogo, Suleman Sani, Viggo Gebel and Castello Lukeba due to injury. Meanwhile, winter addition Ayodele Thomas is ruled out because of illness. 

Predicted lineup: Gulácsi; Baku, Orbán, Bitshiabu, Raum; Schlager, Seiwald, Baumgartner; Diomande, Nusa, Rômulo