Hamburg vs FC Cologne Preview: Team News & Prediction
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This serves as an ideal chance for Hamburg to make it back-to-back Bundesliga wins with a slumping FC Cologne on deck.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – ESPN
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / US – ESPN+
Hamburg preview: Back to winning ways
Following back-to-back home defeats coming into last weekend, Hamburg fans would’ve breathed a sigh of relief and been delighted with the resilience shown from their side. Travelling to Wolfsburg, Hamburg locked in and came away with a much-needed 1-2 victory to move inside the top ten.
To finish mid-table on their return to the Bundesliga would surely be seen as a huge success for a team and a club firmly back on the rise but if Hamburg are to do that, then these are the sort of fixtures they need to be winning down the stretch.
FC Cologne preview: Relegation danger
The bad form of FC Cologne now has them firmly in the relegation crosshairs with them currently on 24 points. They’ve picked up just one point across their last five league games and come into this game following consecutive losses against Augsburg and Borussia Dortmund respectively.
A key reason for that woeful form has been not shutting down opposition attacks. They’ve shipped at least two goals in each of their last five, which is simply not going to help them when it comes arresting this recent slide.
Hamburg team news: Late call for Capaldo
A late fitness test is likely to determine the involvement of Capaldo, but Elfadil, Jatta and Poulsen all miss out for the hosts.
Predicted XI: (3-4-3): Heuer Fernandes; Omari, Vuskovic, Torunarigha; Mikelbrencis, Vieira, Remberg, Muheim; Philippe, Konigsdorffer, Dompe
Unavailable: Elfadil (Injured), Jatta (Injured), Poulsen (Injured), Rossing-Lelesiit (Injured)
Questionable: Capaldo (Injured)
FC Cologne team news: Depleted squad to travel
FC Cologne make the journey to Hamburg without the suspended Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, whilst Jan Thielmann is stuck on an injury list that includes Timo Hubers and Alessio Castro-Montes.
Predicted XI: (4-2-3-1): Schwabe; Krauss, Van den Berg, Ozkacar, Lund; Johannesson, Martel; Kaminski, Bulter, El Mala; Ache
Unavailable: Castro-Montes (Injured), Hubers (Injured), Huseinbasic (Injured), Kilian (Injured), Schenten (Illness), Simpson-Pusey (Suspended), Thielmann (Injured)
Questionable:
Hamburg vs FC Cologne prediction
Having faced two tough opponents hunting for Champions League football last time out at the Volksparkstadion, this home clash represents a better opportunity for them to get three points, especially when taking into account the terrible form of FC Cologne. Confidence and morale among the visiting squad should be pretty low and an early goal could lead to heads dropping and a long evening ahead.
Expect the hosts to try and take charge of this one from the off, grabbing the initiative and testing what has been a shaky defence for the past few weeks. At home, it’s hard to see Hamburg being matched by such a struggling team and it’s well worth backing Merlin Polzin’s side to come out on top.
Hamburg vs FC Cologne tip: Hamburg to win
