FC Cologne vs Hamburg Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Hamburg can move level on points with FC Cologne if they can pick up victory here on the road.

Kick-off date/time:

How to watch on TV: UK – Amazon Prime Video / US – ESPN

How to watch online: UK – Amazon Prime Video / US – ESPN+

FC Cologne preview: One win in last five

It’s been a disappointing stretch of games for FC Cologne in the Bundesliga recently with their only win across their last five league matches coming early last month against Hoffenheim. Since then, the hosts have drawn with Augsburg and been beaten by a goal to nil at the hands of Borussia Dortmund.

At home against fellow newly promoted opponents, Cologne will no doubt see this as a must-win contest as they aim to push further up the table after a hot start. They’ll know Hamburg well after last season, although they won’t have fond memories of those games.

Hamburg preview: Still no win

Hamburg may have finished runners-up to FC Cologne in last season’s 2. Bundesliga, but it was the visitors who won both games between the two clubs over the course of the campaign. That should at least give those players still at the club and playing key roles a confidence boost leading into this top-flight encounter.

However, Hamburg enters this game on the back of successive losses in the Bundesliga, although they were at least victorious midweek in the DFB-Pokal, beating ten-man Heidenheim by a goal to nil on the road through a late Robert Glatzel penalty.

FC Cologne team news: Hosts missing four

FC Cologne are set to be without up to four players for the visit of Hamburg as the likes of Jan Thielmann and Sepp Van den Berg to name just two are missing through injury.

Predicted XI: (3-4-3): Schwabe; Schmied, Martel, Heintz; Sebulonsen, Johannesson, Huseinbasic, Lund; El Mala, Bulter, Kaminski

Unavailable: Hubers (Injured), Kilian (Injured), Thielmann (Injured), Van den Berg (Injured)

Questionable: 

Hamburg team news: Balde in race against time

Hamburg are set to make a late call on winger Fabio Balde’s involvement, with the 20-year-old struggling fitness wise with a muscle injury but centre-back Warmed Omari will miss out.

Predicted XI: (3-4-3): Heuer Fernandes; Capaldo, Vuskovic, Elfadli; Gocholeishvili, Lokonga, Meffert, Muheim; Philippe, Konigsdorffer, Dompe 

Unavailable: Omari (Injured)

Questionable: Balde (Injured)

FC Cologne vs Hamburg prediction

A crucial game between two teams not in the best of form, but who will each see this match as very much winnable. That may lead to an open encounter, even if there is a lack of quality among the players involved. Hamburg knows how to get the better of FC Cologne having done so twice last season, whilst the hosts will want to seize the initiative being in front of their own fans.

With that in mind, it would be surprise if we saw a number of chances at both ends of the pitch with Hamburg looking to hit FC Cologne on the counter-attack and the latter pushing bodies forward whenever they can. Therefore, consider backing both teams to score here.

FC Cologne vs Hamburg tip: Both teams to score