FC Köln will be looking to end their winless streak when they host RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
The Billy Goats have not won in five matches (3D, 2L) and are seven points adrift of safety. They will be hoping to avoid relegation, but a visit from Champions League-chasing Leipzig looks like a tough task.
FC Köln have only taken one point from their meetings with the current top five (1D, 7L) and suffered a 6-0 defeat in the reverse fixture.
Head coach Timo Schultz will be glad to be back on home turf, where he has won two of his three league victories, but the club have only taken nine points at home, their worst return since 2020/21, when they only survived relegation via the play-offs!
RB Leipzig may have exited Europe for this season, but their quest to return to the Champions League has been boosted by a run of three wins in their last four league outings (1D).
Last week’s 2-0 victory over Darmstadt saw the Red Bulls record their eighth clean sheet of the season, but they have not kept back-to-back clean sheets since September, so goals could be on the cards.
The RheinEnergieStadion has proved to be a difficult venue for Leipzig, who have failed to win in their last three visits here (2D, 1L).
Marco Rose’s men are also vulnerable on the road this year, having won just two away games in the Bundesliga since the end of October (2D, 4L).
Key Players:
In-form Faride Alidou scored a brace last week, taking his tally to four goals in his last six appearances for FC Köln, including three openers.
Leipzig midfielder Christoph Baumgartner also found the net in his last outing, and he will be raring to go against the Bundesliga team he has scored the most goals against in his career (five).
Hot stat: Leipzig have conceded only two first-half goals in their last six away games (2W, 3D, 1L).
Prediction: FC Köln 1-2 RB Leipzig
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