FC Cologne vs Stuttgart Preview: Team News & Prediction
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FC Cologne hope to get themselves back to winning ways and stay inside the top four following this round of Bundesliga fixtures as Stuttgart visit the RheinEnergieStadion.
Kick-off date/time:
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FC Cologne preview: Still in top four
FC Cologne sit inside the Champions League places despite having not won their last two Bundesliga fixtures. A thrilling 3-3 draw away at Wolfsburg was followed up by a flat 3-1 defeat on the road against RB Leipzig, who were comprehensively stronger than Lukas Kwasniok’s side. That result represented a first league defeat of the campaign for FC Cologne.
Having conceded six goals over the course of those last two matches, there is still improvement that can be made from an FC Cologne perspective. However, they have scored four more goals than their opponents here after four rounds of games.
Stuttgart preview: Balancing commitments
Stuttgart are one of the clubs needing to balance their Bundesliga commitments with European football and this represents their first big test. Only three days after their opening Europa League game of the season, Sebastian Hoeness’ men take to the road for what is their first away fixture since losing 3-1 at Freiburg.
It was a successful first Europa League match for Stuttgart as they overcame Spanish side Celta Vigo by two goals to one. All the goals came in the second half as the home side jumped out into a two-goal lead. Celta responded late on but couldn’t save themselves.
FC Cologne team news: Hamstring rules out Bulter
FC Cologne are without frontman Marius Bulter due to a hamstring injury. The backline will be missing versatile defender Rav Van den Berg, who has a shoulder problem. Luca Kilian is also not available.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Schwabe; Schmied, Hubers, Krauss; Sebulonsen, Johannesson, Martel, Lund; Waldschmidt, Thielmann, Kaminski
Unavailable: Bulter (Injured), Kilian (Injured), Van den Berg (Injured)
Questionable:
Stuttgart team news: Undav a big loss
Ermedin Demirovic will start up front for Stuttgart, who are missing Deniz Undav because of a foot injury. Tiago Tomas should start on the wing with Jamie Leweling on the opposite side. Diehl and Jeltsch are both doubtful.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Nubel; Vagnoman, Jaquez, Chabot, Mittelstadt; Chema, Stiller; Tomas, El Khannouss, Leweling; Demirovic
Unavailable: Silas (Injured), Undav (Injured)
Questionable: Diehl (Injured), Jeltsch (Injured)
FC Cologne vs Stuttgart prediction
Both these two teams began the weekend inside the top eight of the Bundesliga, so a good game should be on the cards between the pair. It’s been inconsistent for Stuttgart, winning two and losing two, whilst FC Cologne have lost only one game, picking up seven points. However, they’ve proven leaky recently from a defensive perspective, conceding three goals in consecutive league games.
It would be no surprise to see the hosts play a little more conservatively, especially when taking into account the pace of Stuttgart on the counter-attack. The visitors have been tougher to score against and could frustrate FC Cologne. When taking into account their respective positions in the table, a draw wouldn’t be a bad result for either and backing that outcome is to be considered.
FC Cologne vs Stuttgart tip: Draw
