Werder Bremen vs FC Cologne Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Both currently stranded in mid-table, Werder Bremen and FC Cologne each need to kick on and three points here would help their cause.

Kick-off date/time:

How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – ESPN

How to watch online: UK – Not televised / US – ESPN+

Werder Bremen preview: Leipzig too strong 

Werder Bremen’s unbeaten streak was put to a convincing end by RB Leipzig in their last game. Ole Werner’s title chasing side did a professional job on mid-table Werder, putting them away by two goals to nil. Whilst Werder are too good of a team to be in a relegation fight, the loss to Leipzig showed how far they still have to go to get back among the top four.

However, being back on their own turf is a big boost for Werder heading into this match, with Horst Steffen’s men having won their last three home league fixtures and keeping a clean sheet in two of those.

FC Cologne preview: Back on the losing side

FC Cologne were left devastated after coming out the wrong end of a 3-4 thriller at the hands of Eintracht Frankfurt. The match continued the trend of entertaining games involving Lukas Kwasniok’s side, with 16 goals having been scored over the course of FC Cologne’s last three matches.

With just three points accumulated from the last 12 available to them, the visitors are fast losing sight of the clubs chasing European places, underlining the need for a positive result in this contest.

Werder Bremen team news: Five missing

Werder Bremen are set to be without five players for the visit of FC Cologne, all of which are through injuries. Max Wober, Mitchell Weiser, Felix Agu, Olivier Deman and Julian Malatini are the players in question.

Predicted XI: (4-2-3-1): Backhaus; Sugawara, Pieper, Coulibaly, Friedl; Stage, Lynen; Grull, Schmid, Mbangula; Boniface

Unavailable: Agu (Injured), Deman (Injured), Malatini (Injured), Weiser (Injured), Wober (Injured)

Questionable: 

FC Cologne team news: Concussion sidelines Ache

Forward Ragnar Ache misses out due to the concussion protocol and he is one of four players out of action for this one. Knee injuries sideline both Timo Hubers and Luca Kilian, with a thigh problem keeping out Joel Schmied.

Predicted XI: (4-3-3): Schwabe; Sebulonsen, Martel, Heintz, Lund; Johannesson, Huseinbasic, Kainz; Thielmann, Bulter, Kaminski

Unavailable: Ache (Injured), Hubers (Injured), Kilian (Injured), Schmied (Injured)

Questionable: 

Werder Bremen vs FC Cologne prediction

Only one place and one point separate these two clubs in the table and both need three points here to start climbing up towards the business end of the Bundesliga. Factor in the drama of FC Cologne’s recent games and we are likely in for a contest that sees a high volume of goals scored, potentially on either side.

Each of the visitors’ last four have seen over 2.5 goals scored and the same outcome is well worth backing here. But not only that, both teams to score also appeals when considering the attacking style of play we should see from both Werder Bremen and FC Cologne.

Werder Bremen vs FC Cologne tip: Over 2.5 goals and both teams to score