FC Cologne vs Schalke 04 Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Sarwar ·
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FC Cologne host a Schalke 04 side struggling at present, with the 2. Bundesliga champions without a win in their last three league games.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / USA – ESPN
How to watch online: UK – Not televised / USA – ESPN+
FC Cologne preview: Home comforts
FC Cologne’s form on the road continues to disappoint, as they fell to a third straight away defeat last time out in the Bundesliga against Eintracht Frankfurt. While Rene Wagner’s side battled hard, they were ultimately beaten 1-0 at Deutsche Bank Park.
They will be hoping that home comforts pay dividends against a Schalke 04 side who are currently slumping. So far at home, FC Cologne have picked up four points from a possible six, drawing with Werder Bremen and beating Borussia Monchengladbach.
Schalke 04 preview: Sliding towards bottom three
Schalke 04 are beginning to look over their shoulders, and understandably so, with consecutive defeats seeing them slide closer to the bottom three. Only goal difference currently keeps them above water and after a positive start to the season that saw them gain four points from their opening two games, Miron Muslic’s men have since picked up just one point from the last nine available to them.
Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of their recent form has been the results at home. Drawing 0-0 with fellow promoted side SV Elversberg was bad enough, but a recent 0-1 loss at the hands of Mainz was just as tough to take.
FC Cologne team news: Several out injured
Ache, Hubers, Skhiri and Van der Berg are just four on the FC Cologne treatment table heading into this latest match.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Schwabe; Sebulonsen, Simpson-Pusey, Lochoshvili, Sosa; Krauss, Johannesson; Maina, Moore, El Mala; Bulter
Unavailable: Ache (Injured), Dallinga (Injured), Hubers (Injured), Rondic (Injured), Skhiri (Injured), Van den Berg (Injured)
Questionable:
Schalke 04 team news: Plenty of names missing
Schalke 04 are also dealing with numerous injuries with Hojlund, Karaman and Lasme still out, whilst Siebeking and Sylla are also injured.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Karius; Becker, Katic, Kurucay; Dina Ebimbe, Tanaka, El-Faouzi, Gosens; Hwang, Adamu, Aouchiche
Unavailable Hojlund (Injured), Karaman (Injured), Lasme (Injured), Ljubicic (Injured), Schallenberg (Injured), Siebeking (Injured), Sylla (Injured)
Questionable:
FC Cologne vs Schalke 04 prediction
Despite being away from home, Schalke 04 really need to go for it in order to give themselves the best possible chance of winning. FC Cologne aren’t one of the stronger sides in the Bundesliga and are a team that Schalke can absolutely target as they aim to climb back up the table. Expect the visitors to really come out and have a crack at Cologne.
While this may bring them more success going forward when compared to recent games, it also opens the door for the home side, and it would be no surprise if Cologne took advantage of any gaps afforded to them in the opposition half. Therefore, regardless of who comes out on top, backing both teams to score appears a shrewd play.
FC Cologne vs Schalke 04 tip: Both teams to score
