Bundesliga – FC Köln at home to Hoffenheim

Sunday at the Rhein Energie Stadion, as Cologne host Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga.

With Champion’s League positions always a key motivation, fourth placed Hoffenheim remain in contention as they travel to eighth placed Cologne.

It’s 36 points so far for FC Köln this season, going into this game

Steffen Baumgart’s men were held to a disappointing draw against Greuther Fürth in their last fixture, he will be keen to improve on that in this game.

Also, Cologne keep finding ways to win, having secured five victories in their last nine games is astonishing this season. With 36 points, they currently sit eighth in the League. The breakdown for the team’s record is 9 wins, 6 losses and 9 draws having won nine matches, drawn nine meetings, and lost six fixtures.

When Cologne host Hoffenheim, they will do so on the back of seven victories, three draws, and two defeats on their own ground.

A victory for FC Köln would put them on 39 points.

Good Attacking Performance

Cologne will be pleased to have a good goal scoring record so far this season (36). This season, their stand-out attacking players have been Anthony Modeste (3), Timo Hubers (1), and Florian Kainz (1). Teams that leak goals on a consistent basis, don’t tend to win anything, such is the situation with Cologne so far, having conceded 38 goals in their last matches so far.

Cologne are no strangers this season to illness and injury and Steffen Baumgart is concerned that Sunday’s fixture could see him without one of his key players.

Hoffenheim’s Bundesliga season, has so far seen them gain 40 points, going into this game

With Hoffenheim having secured all three points on their two previous outings, Sebastian Hoeness’s men will doubtless be looking to retain their run after this fixture.

Also, Now they have 12 matches won, 8 games lost and 4 duels drawn; that’s why they currently sit in fourth place, with a total of 40 points having won 12 fixtures, drawn four games, and lost eight meetings.

Hoffenheim’s away record is remarkable and poses a significant threat to Cologne. In the 12 games they’ve played on the road this season, they have so far won four fixtures, drawn two meetings, and lost six games.

Winning this fixture will see Hoffenheim on 43 points.

Good Attacking Performance

This has been a good season so far for Hoffenheim, in terms of goals scored (47). This is largely down to the efforts of their stand-out attackers – Christoph Baumgartner (2), Andrej Kramaric (2), and Georginio Rutter (2). Hoffenheim have a poor defensive record so far, having conceded 36 goals in their previous matches.

Injury and illness have depleted Sebastian Hoeness’s Hoffenheim and they will likely be missing seven key personnel for Sunday’s match.

FC Köln v Hoffenheim – Head-to-Heads.

Regarding their historical duels when these two sides meet, a draw is never usually the expected outcome. In the past 25 matches, Hoffenheim have won 12 wins and Cologne seven wins. In their most recent meeting of this fixture was October 2021 and the score line ended up with a 5-0 win for FC Köln.

Other players of note for Cologne are Anthony Modeste and Timo Hubers with three goals each and for Hoffenheim are Andrej Kramaric and Georginio Rutter with two goals and two goals respectively.