Augsburg vs FC Cologne Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Augsburg are searching for a third straight league win, whilst FC Cologne try to avoid losing for a third time this month.

Kick-off date/time:

How to watch on TV: UK – BBC iPlayer / US – ESPN

How to watch online: UK – BBC Sport website & BBC iPlayer / US – ESPN+

Augsburg preview: Momentum building

Augsburg have slowly moved up the table in recent weeks following consecutive league victories and four wins in their last five top flight matches. It was a thrilling game most recently involving Augsburg as well, which saw them triumph 2-3 away to a struggling Wolfsburg. It’s promising that they are now putting away the teams at the bottom end league when needed.

The manner of that Wolfsburg triumph will have been most pleasing from an Augsburg perspective. After trailing 2-1 with only minutes remaining, a Michael Gregoritsch penalty levelled things before fellow substitute Elvis Rexhbecaj snatched three points for Augsburg at the death.

FC Cologne preview: Points hard to come by

Whilst FC Cologne are four points above the bottom three and five clear of the automatic relegation places, it’s still an uncomfortable place to be for a side who appear to have lost their way of late, although admittedly they have had a tricky run of fixtures in which to navigate.

After losing to both RB Leipzig and Stuttgart, Lukas Kwasniok’s side came away with an entertaining 2-2 draw at home to Hoffenheim. They took the lead early on through Ragnar Ache before Hoffenheim rallied and turned things around to lead themselves. But Kwasniok’s men responded and Said El Mala levelled things up to ensure a share of the spoils.

Augsburg team news: Gouweleeuw won’t feature

Augsburg captain Jeffrey Gouweleeuw is set to miss this game and not having him at the back is a loss for the hosts. Matsima is also out through injury.

Predicted XI: (3-4-3): Dahmen; Zesiger, Banks, Schlotterbeck; Fellhauer, Massengo, Jakic, Giannoulis; Komur, Ribeiro, Claude-Maurice

Unavailable: Gouweleeuw (Injured), Matsima (Injured)

Questionable: 

FC Cologne team news: Multiple players missing

FC Cologne will have to make do without a number of players for this match such as Jan Thielmann, Timo Hubers and Luca Kilian as well as Alessio Castro-Montes and Sebastian Sebulonsen.

Predicted XI: (3-4-3): Schwabe; Van Den Berg, Martel, Ozkacar; Kaminski, Krauss, Bergmann-Johannesson, Lund; Bulter, Ache, El Mala

Unavailable: Castro-Montes (Injured), Hubers (Injured), Kilian (Injured), Sebulonsen (Injured), Thielmann (Injured)

Questionable: Maina (Injured)

Augsburg vs FC Cologne prediction

Whilst on paper, Augsburg appear to represent more winnable opposition for FC Cologne compared to recent weeks which has seen them face three of the current top six. However, that take should be seen as disrespectful to the hosts, who are a strong side on their own patch and boast momentum in their favour following those back-to-back wins leading up to this latest round of Bundesliga fixtures.

Augsburg seem to have really turned a corner since the winter and are playing with a lot more confidence now, which has been reflected in both their general play and results. With home advantage in their favour, back them to extend this impressive winning run and claim three points against FC Cologne.

Augsburg vs FC Cologne tip: Augsburg to win