St Pauli vs Cologne Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Cologne are pushing themselves clear of the danger zone after a big win last weekend ahead of the visit to elegation-threatened St Pauli at the Millerntor.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – ESPN
How to watch online: UK – BBC iPlayer & Bundesliga YouTube / US – ESPN+
St Pauli preview: Battling hosts
Under the management of Alexander Blessin, St Pauli begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting third-from-bottom and in the end of season relegation playoff place, now three points adrift of outright safety.
That is because they come into this one on the back of a 5-0 hammering at the hands of a 5-0 hammering at the hands of a heavily rotated Bayern Munich side last week due to goals from Jamal Musiala, Leon Goretzka, Michael Olise, Nicolas Jackson and Raphael Guerreiro.
Cologne preview: Steadying themselves
St Pauli were done a favour by Cologne, though, sort of, as, despite Cologne edging their way clear, the visitors inflicted a defeat upon Werder Bremen to mean that Werder sit just three points ahead of St Pauli.
At the RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne eased to a comfortable 3-1 defeat of Werder with goals from the always impressive Said El Mala, as well as Ragnar Ache and a late Mio Nagata own goal.
St Pauli team news: Fujita suspended
Japan international midfielder Joel Chima Fujita is missing through suspension for St Pauli, while they also deal with key doubts over Eric Smith and Manolis Saliakas.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Vasilj; Ando, Wahl, Mets; Pyrka, Rasmussen, Metcalfe, Ritzka; Sinani, Pereira Lage; Hountondji
Unavailable: Sands (Injured), Fujita (Suspended), Jones (Injured)
Questionable: Smith (Injured), Saliakas (Injured)
Cologne team news: Nothing fresh
There are no fresh injury concerns or suspension issues for this one with just a couple of longer-term absentees such as defender Luca Kilian and Timo Hubers.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Schwabe; Sebulonsen, Simpson-Pusey, Ozkacar; Thielmann, Martel, Kaminski, Johannesson, Lund; Ache, El Mala
Unavailable: Kilian (Injured), Hubers (Injured)
Questionable:
St Pauli vs Cologne prediction
Cologne were impressive last weekend, albeit it was against ten-men opposition with Marco Friedl sent off early on for Werder. Prior to that game, where they were given a helping hand, Cologne had endured an eight-match winless run of form. With their home advantage, St Pauli will be confident of taking the game to their previously struggling opposition but the door will be open and, with El Mala, the visitors always carry a threat.
St Pauli vs Cologne tip: Both teams to score
